A convicted murderer is back in custody days after he escaped before his sentencing hearing in Burlington.
Litego Dariyonta Marshall, 47, was found guilty of first-degree murder, but he did not show up for court to learn his verdict.
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During his trial on Friday, Dec. 13, court documents show that Marshall left for a lunch break and never returned. On Monday, the jury returned guilty verdicts on Marshall's murder and armed robbery charges.
Police officers said Marshall turned himself in on Thursday and is now at the Alamance County Detention Center under no bond.
Marshall was on trial for a murder that happened in 2017 during a drug deal. He was arrested in January 2018 but according to court records, he was released on bond in 2021.
Assistant Burlington Police Chief Josh Long said the District Attorney's Office noted Marshall's bond was set at $500,000, however, court records don't show a dollar amount tied to Marshall's bond for his homicide charges.
"We don't have any control of the bond per se," Long said. "It's totally up to whatever they said."
When asked why there was a delay between when Marshall escaped and when police released information regarding him, Long said they couldn't release anything until an order for arrest was issued.
According to documents obtained by WRAL News, Marshall's arrest order was issued on Dec. 13 when he escaped.
"Officers were following up on actionable leads in an attempt to apprehend Marshall," Long said in an email to WRAL News. "Since then, the media release has been sent to request assistance from the community in locating him.
In March 2023, Marshall was arrested in Durham on charges of cocaine trafficking and cocaine possession with intent to sell and distribute.
His bond for his cocaine charges was set at $100,000 and was scheduled for hearings on those charges in January.
North Carolina Central University law professor Irving Joyner said it was "unusual" for a man accused of murder to be out on bond.
"If this person has been a repeat offender, or it's a very serious charge, then it is likely that they are going to get either a property bond or no bond at all," he said. "Certainly, in a case where a person is charged with murder, it is highly likely that they will not be able to get any type of bond."
WRAL News reached out to the Alamance County Superior Court and the Alamance County District Attorney's Office with the following questions following Marshall's escape:
- Why did the judge set bond for Marshall at $0?
- Why was he allowed to leave the courthouse during his trial?
- Why wasn't the public notified about Marshall's disappearance until three days after he went missing?