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Wednesday, March 26, 1997

Television show leads to arrest of fugitive twins

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - Deputy U.S. Marshal David Heibert never bought into the sentiment that he wouldn't track down twins Gerald and Derald Richardson.

The Richardsons, 24, had built a reputation as violent, dangerous drug dealers. When they fled Tarrant County after posting bail in the beating death of an elderly man, police had a hard time tracking them down, since, naturally, people were afraid to talk.

On the lam for three years, the Richardsons apparently were living the high life in Houston. Using the last name Davis, the two reportedly associated with rap musicians, drove Jeep Grand Cherokees, lived in expensive apartments and frequented Houston area night clubs, a federal official said.

It all ended Saturday with their arrests after being featured on "America's Most Wanted: America Fights Back."

"These guys were deemed untouchable in their culture," said Hiebert, a member of the North Texas Joint Fugitive Task Force that tracked down the Richardson twins. "Everybody told us we'd never catch them, they got too much money, they got too much this and that. And I said, 'Well, OK. We'll see.' "

The twins were arrested by Hiebert, task force member Jerry Kiser of the Tarrant County Sheriff's Department and about 30 other police officials in Houston.

"I've been looking for them for a long time. I'm very, very happy," said Assistant District Attorney Greg Miller, who prosecuted them in the past and will prosecute them in the beating death of Ernest Clark.

Motions have been filed to revoke the Richardsons' probation when they're returned to Fort Worth this week. Miller said Tuesday they also might face charges for jumping bail.

Officials also said they're considering federal weapons charges against the men for possession of an illegal "street sweeper" shotgun and two handguns found inside Derald Richardson's home.

Last month, the television show ran an episode called "The Twins," which generated more than 100 tips. Some tipsters were acquaintances who said the brothers saw the show and thought it was "really cool" that they were featured, Hiebert said.

Complicating the investigation and prosecution was the fact that both are identical, said Fort Worth homicide Sgt. Paul Kratz.

"They interchange identities. Even when you have eyewitnesses willing to talk, it becomes really hard when you have identical twins," he said.

Miller said the twins are suspected in other crimes, some violent, but wouldn't elaborate. A problem law enforcers have encountered is a lot of people are "scared to death of them," Miller said.

Clark, 74, was beaten in September 1991. Police said a man ran in front of his car and pretended to be struck. When Clark stopped to check on the man's injuries, the twins and another man beat him.

Clark died about two years later in a nursing center.

The twins disappeared after their 1994 indictment on a charge of injury to the elderly. The charge carries the same punishment as murder, officials said.

A third man, Alton Glenn Young, 25, was convicted of injury to the elderly and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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