Placencia Police Apprehend U.S. Fugitive Wanted for Child Sex Assault
William Elmer Pettijohn
A U.S. fugitive is back in the U.S. after being apprehended by the Placencia Police on Thursday. On the strength of a warrant issued by the United States Government, forty-three year old William Elmer Pettijohn was wanted in Jones County, Texas for the crimes of “Child Sex Assault” and “Human Trafficking.” Pettijohn entered the country on April fifteenth via the Phillip Goldson International Airport. He was staying at a newly opened resort named Sail Fish and then later moved to Paradise Resort in Placencia. But his visit was cut short when Pettijohn was detained and promptly handed over to U.S. authorities. Pettijohn is the most recent fugitive to be caught in Belize which seems to be attracting its fair share of wanted criminals.
There seems to be a myth in the USA that there is no extradition treaty between Belize and the US. A few years ago, a co-worker called to ask about this. The son of a friend of his was in trouble and facing prison. Their attorney suggested that the kid re-locate to Belize account no extradition. I quickly disabused him of that thought.