Escapee

Tonga navy and aircraft help as hunt for US murder suspect widens

Aerial searches were being conducted as search continued into its second day.

Kaniva News reports Police and HMAF Tonga Navy were searching the northern seas of Vava’u and surrounding areas, where Fetcher is thought to have escaped in his yacht, Sea Oak.

International police alerts are in place and active inquiries are underway, Police said.

“A full investigation into the circumstances of the escape has been ordered by Commissioner Steve Caldwel”.

Fletcher is alleged to have murdered his Canadian wife in Vava’u in June this year.

Police seek help to locate yacht with escaped prisoner on board

Escaped prisoner, Dean Jay Fletcher had fired several flares at the police boat in a 5-hour standoff.

A police statement said Fletcher was believed to be holding a bottle of benzene liquid and threatened to set fire to the police boat with the use of the inflammable benzene and flares.

The police were not in a position to counter the threat and did not have the capacity to maintain the pursuit in open water.