Second person arrested in Columbia County murder case
Second person arrested in Columbia County murder case
The second person wanted in connection with the murder of a Columbia County man was arrested in Tennessee over the holiday weekend.
Larry Craig Whitworth, 29, was arrested Sunday evening after his father called a friend who is an investigator with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations and told the investigator Whitworth wanted to surrender. Whitworth was taken into custody without incident by the Cumberland County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Cumberland County Jail.
Whitworth and his mother, Mary Boswell, 47, were both wanted in connection with the murder of Columbia County resident Jerry Gifford. Gifford, 59, was found in a pond on his property in Columbia County last week.
Mr. Gifford was last seen alive by a family friend on May 13 and his wallet was found on the side of US Highway 41.
The mother and her son had been living on Gifford’s property with him for about a month when Gifford disappeared. The Medical Examiner in Jacksonville determined the death was a homicide.
Boswell and Whitworth were spotted last week in Tennessee driving Gifford’s stolen 2002 Chevrolet truck and deputies attempted to pull it over resulting in a pursuit of about five miles before the driver crashed the truck and Boswell and Whitworth ran into a nearby wooded area.
Tennessee authorities tracked the two for several hours using K-9s and a helicopter. Boswell was taken into custody. Whitworth remained at large, but Tennessee authorities believed he was still in the area.
"This is a good ending to a real tragedy," said Sheriff Bill Gootee. "Felony murder warrants have been served on both Boswell and Whitworth."
Gootee said an extradition hearing is set for May 29. "If they do not fight extradition, we will transport them back to Columbia County where they will each face murder charges in the death of Mr. Gifford," said Sheriff Gootee. "We had law enforcement agencies from two states and multiple counties working together and I believe the teamwork displayed by all involved was the key to this successful capture."
Boswell and Whitworth are being held in the Cumberland County Jail without bond.
