Branscome’s Friends Ask Him to Turn Himself In
Advertisement
Text size: small | medium | large
By Angela Hatcher
WSLS10 Reporter/Anchor
Published: March 31, 2008
When police started combing Indian Valley, looking for Steven Branscome, “We were waiting on them to come knocking on our door first.“, says Rachel Thomas.
Because Mark and Rachel Thomas say they’re Branscome’s best, if not only, friends.
“He’s always come to us.“, says Rachel. “We’ll tell him we don’t agree with what’s going on.“
That’s likely the reason why police believed Branscome was staying in their outbuilding last week, according to a search warrant.
The couple tells us when they heard Indian Valley Road on the news, they were sure Branscome was headed to see them. They say police searched the place Sunday.
Mark and Rachel tell us that Branscome knows their door is always open, that they would never turn their backs on him. But they say he’s probably afraid to come there now, afraid that something bad will go down with police in front of their children.
They say the man in the mug shot, carries a picture of those kids in his wallet and the kids call him Uncle Steve.
“This is somebody we’ve trusted fully with our kids. We’ve trusted him with our lives.“, says Rachel. “Do you still trust him?“, asks Angela Hatcher. “Yeah, with us, I do. I would always trust him because we’ve seen the side of Steve most everybody else has not seen.“, says Rachel.
So if Branscome sees this story Mark, who’s known him since the sixth grade, has something to tell him.
“I urge him to turn himself in instead of keep running and have something bad happen to him.“, says Mark Thomas.
“We’re hurting right now because we love him. We love him. Our kids love him and we’re afraid he’s going to get hurt and we just don’t want it to happen.“, says Rachel.
A desperate plea, waiting on an answer from a wanted man.
Mark says he gave Branscome Rachel’s old cell phone, so he could keep in touch with them.
The search warrant says Branscome has been sending text messages from that phone saying, “police will have to shoot him and that he will not go back to jail.“
Mark and Rachel says those messages were not sent to them.
They say they have not seen Branscome in two weeks.
Page 1 of 1
Post a Comment
The commenting period has ended or commenting has been deactivated for this article.
Can't find what you're looking for? Try our quick search:
Reader Reactions
Posted by ( march ) on April 04, 2008 at 2:21 pm
asking again, what am i doing wrong to not get my comment posted. can you contact me throu my email address to help me figure out what i am not doing right? a great big thanks. waiting to here from you.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( hillbillyreaper ) on April 04, 2008 at 8:10 am
i agree with the Thomas family. Steven has never hurt me or anyone else I know. I am his cousin,& we had classes in school together. I hope he turns himself in.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( Brenda ) on April 01, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Well, he may or may not have someone helping at this point. I, for one, would not be interested in harboring a fugitive…not to mention being caught in any crossfire once police catch up with him.
That said, there are always folks out there who do not care for the law/police and would be more than happy to help Branscome hide.
You have to understand the Thomas family is well liked by Branscome. So he is always going to be friendly to them and probably steer away due to the fact he certainly understands that property is being closely monitored.
Important thing to remember is that this man DID shoot and and hit one of our State Troopers. Thank God our officer is OK. To do such a thing points to an extremely dangerous individual. Not only that, but he’s stated he’s not going to jail, so he is also unconcerned about his own life at this stage. No one who encounters him is truly going to be safe. Maybe not even the Thomas family depending on Branscome’s mental state.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( gmc ) on April 01, 2008 at 9:09 am
My question to theese people would be “when they thought Steven was heading to their home did they call the police?People in Floyd are concerned for their safety b/c most everybody in Floyd relates the name Steven Branscome to a trouble making bully and he probally has one of his good ol “sidekicks"helping him..
Report Inappropriate Comment