Fugitive in Jellico arson case captured in Whitley County

An investigation into a possible domestic dispute lead to the capture of a southern Whitley County man early Wednesday morning, who was wanted in connection with a Jellico arson case.

Randy Joe Jones is facing a Tennessee arson charge in connection with an April 3 fire in Jellico.

Whitley County Sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Lennon arrested Randy Joe Jones, 34, of 3735 Lot Mud Creek Road, outside of a residence at 14540 Highway 92E about 7:40 a.m. charging him with being a fugitive from the state of Tennessee.

Lennon said that he responded to the location to investigate a call about a possible domestic dispute, but when he arrived at the residence there was no one inside the home.

Jones was in a vehicle parked in front of the residence.

When Lennon did a computer background check on Jones, it was determined that he was wanted in Tennessee, and Jones was taken into custody, Lennon said.

Jones waived extradition to Tennessee during his arraignment Thursday afternoon before Whitley District Judge Fred White.

A joint investigation lead to Jones’ indictment this month in connection to a fire that occurred in Campbell County, Tennessee, earlier this year, according to a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) release Thursday.

On April 3, at the request of Eighth District Attorney General Jared Effler, TBI special agents joined Tennessee Fire Investigative Services and the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office in investigating a fire that occurred on March 24 in an outbuilding, which was located in the 300 block of Shady Lane in Jellico, according to the TBI release.

“During the course of the investigation, authorities determined the fire had been intentionally set and that Randy Joe Jones was the individual responsible,” the release stated.

On June 6, the Campbell County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Jones with one count of arson.

Jones was lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center awaiting extradition to Tennessee. Jail records indicate he was released from the facility shortly before 2 p.m. Friday into the custody of Campbell County officials.