BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor
Last week, a task force arrested a man wanted for a triple murder. The murders took place nearly 38 years ago in West Virginia.
According to police, 59-year-old Eddie Jack Washington was taken into custody without incident last Thursday. He was arrested on a warrant issued February 6th, by the Fairmont Police Department in West Virginia.
According to the Fairmont Police Department, on August 2, 1974, groundskeepers employed by a West Virginia park discovered the bodies of a woman and two men. All three had been badly beaten and shot execution style in the head.
The victims were identified as Wanda Jane Phillips, 19, her husband, Guy Lester Phillips, 20, and 27-year-old Billy Ray Cobb. The case had become a cold case until recently.
Last September, the U. S. Marshal’s Service had been requested to keep Washington under surveillance from his residence at 2409 E. 17th Avenue, Apartment B.
Last Thursday, police followed Washington from his apartment to the Friendly Meat and Grocery, 1910 N. 34th Street, where he was arrested without incident.
The task force consisted of representatives from the United States Marshals Service, Tampa Police Department, Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force, Tampa Office.
While Living In Tampa
Washington had reportedly lived in Tampa for several years. According to police records, he has come in contact with local police and had been arrested.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office web page, Washington was arrested July 22, 1999, and charged with driving under the influence and no valid driver’s license. Tampa Police officers arrested him after he was reportedly observed driving in the 1400 block of Estelle.
On March 19, 2003, Washington was stopped by Tampa Police while riding a bicycle. A records check showed an active warrant issued on November 18, 1999 by the Sheriff’s Office for violation of probation on a DUI charge.
Officer Ronald Paulk wrote in his report that Washington allegedly said, “He would have killed me and Officer Mako if he had a weapon.”
Washington was arrested again June 21, 2004, and charged with two counts of possession of cocaine. Washington remained in jail for 234 days and was released on February 10, 2005.
