Marshal says fugitives had 8-hour head start on authorities

Associated Press
Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019 4:12 p.m. | Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019 4:12 p.m.

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Tucson Police Department via AP

These undated combination booking photos provided by the Tucson Police Department show 56-year-old Blake Barksdale, left, and his 59-year-old wife Susan Barksdale.

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Arizona Department of Transportation via AP

These signs on Arizona highways alert the public that a married couple suspected in a Tucson killing remained at large after overpowering two guards and escaping while being extradited from New York to Arizona.

PHOENIX — The U.S. marshal for Arizona says a fugitive couple suspected of murder escaped by tying up two security guards near the Utah state line.

In an interview Thursday with Phoenix radio station KTAR-FM, David Gonzales shared more details about how 56-year-old Blane Barksdale and 59-year-old Susan Barksdale escaped on Monday.

Authorities say the couple was being extradited from upstate New York to Arizona to face murder charges in the killing of a Tucson man.

Authorities say the couple overpowered their escorts and fled to Arizona.

Gonzales says it took the civilian guards two to three hours to break out.

He says the Barksdales had been gone for eight hours by the time investigators got there.

They were last seen with a red GMC pickup, which they got from an acquaintance.