WAYCROSS, GA — A Waycross man who failed to appear for his trial on vehicular homicide and driving under the influence charges in the death of his grandson has surrendered to officers and is the Ware County jail, officials said.
William David Vickers Jr., 45, who had been free on bail, had "proper notice" but was not present at the Ware County Courthouse at 1 p.m. Tuesday, when his trial was scheduled to begin, District Attorney Rick Currie said.
Vickers was charged in July 24, 2010, crash on Jamestown Road north of Wacyross when his SUV left the roadway and overturned ejecting and killing William Landon Xzavier Teegardin Vickers, 3. He was charged with first degree vehicular homicide, DUI and endangering a child while under the influence.
After Vickers’ failure to appear for trial on those charges, Superior Court Judge Jeffrey H. Kite issued a bench warrant for his arrest, and the Ware Country Sheriff’s Office began a search, Sheriff Randy Royal says.
When sheriff’s deputies arrived at Vickers’ home on Mill Creek Road, they found him gone and a note attached to the front door.
Royal says the note implied that Vickers felt “he had limited options” and may have been considering harming himself. It also indicated that Vickers could have gone behind his house to the river.
“We suspected this could have been an attempt to buy time,” but his office nonetheless addressed the possibilities laid out in the note, Royal said.
A search was conducted of the portion of river behind Vickers’ home but he was not found.
Sheriff’s Office developed information that indicated Vickers may have fled to Putnam County in Florida and they applied pressure through the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and media for Vickers to turn himself in, Royal said.
The Ware County Sheriff’s Office were notified around noon Wednesday that Vickers would agree to turn himself in if he could have a family member pick him up from Florida and take him back to his Waycross residence to be taken into custody there.
The Sheriff’s Office agreed and Sgt. Michael Ray and Deputy Dearin Drury arrested him at his home about 2:45 p.m. Wednesday, Royal said.
Vickers will remain in jail until his lawyers request a bail hearing, Currie said.
Currie said he will oppose bail because Vickers has shown himself to be a flight risk.
Man Who Fled Trial on Vehicular Homicide, DUI Charges in Grandson's Death Back in Jail was originally published by Joshua Sharpe on The Florida Times Union.
