Fugitive returned to U.S. ? tipsters vie for Oprah’s reward

At this hour fifty year old Niles Scott, the U.S. fugitive apprehended this week, is safely behind bars, in either Texas or Ohio. But here in Belize the drama is only just beginning, because with a hundred thousand U.S. dollar reward on the line, the details of his capture are mighty important.

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Shortly before two this afternoon, a subdued and shackled Scott, in the company of Federal Marshals, boarded a Continental Flight to Houston for eventual transport to Cleveland, Ohio. When Scott failed to appear for trail in 2003 it is believed he absconded to Belize. One of the first persons to see him in the country that year is forty-three year old Cecil Gill, owner of a scooter rental service, located just outside the Tourism Village where Scott was working as a taxi driver.

Cecil Gill, Looking for Reward
“I can recall in 2003, early 2003 when I start seeing him out at the Tourism Village.”

Jacqueline Woods
“What was he doing out at the Tourism Village?”

Cecil Gill
“He was running a cab and he was hustling tourists, giving tours.”

Despite the fact that he was on the F.B.I.’s Most Wanted list, Scott took up residence at this boarding house situated just down the street from the U.S. Embassy. Scott is described as a quiet individual who basically kept to himself and did not have many friends… certainly not the type to set off any international alarms.

Oprah.com Video Message
“In no uncertain terms?as a matter of fact, in terms that I hope are very certain, that I have had enough. With every breath in my body, whatever it takes, and most importantly, with your support we are going to move heaven and earth to stop a sickness, a darkness that I believe is the definition of evil that’s been going on for far too long

Thanks to the global outreach of Oprah, it did not take long for a number of persons thousands of miles away in Belize City to recognise the man who now had a price on his head.

Carol Desiree Wade, Looking for Reward
“He didn’t seem like a bad person to me. I always talk to him, he talk to me. He was even going out with?when he first got here before he started working at the Tourism Village he went out with one of my friends. I can’t call her name; I am not going to do that.”

Thirty-five year old Carol Desiree Wade who works as a hair braider at the Tourism Village says she could not believe the news.

Carol Desiree Wade
“I tell my husband to be, “Wallace, Wallace, I know this man. I swear I know this man. This man work out at the Tourism Village with we and I know he. I could find he, he deh out a Tourism Village right now.” Like that I tell him.”

During her Tuesday broadcast, aired on cable and Channel 5, the queen of talk promised a reward of one hundred thousand dollars for information leading to the capture of any of the fugitives featured. Since the show aired, several people have come forward to claim the money. Gill says after watching the show on Tuesday, he contacted local authorities around five-thirty that evening.

Cecil Gill
“Whether or not that information led them to Mr. Scott, the F.B.I. did not know where Mr. Scott was, the Belize police did not know where Mr. Scott was. I, Cecil Gill, is the first one to alert them as to Mr. Scott’s whereabouts in this country.”

Carol Desiree Wade
“Why I think I supposed to get the money is because as soon as?before the Oprah show was finished, I run across my neighbourhood and I was trying to get through to the police and I didn?t get through to the police. I get through between seven and eight on the 922 number that they give us, on the phone.”

The Reporter newspaper has identified another person, Patricia Waight, who also stands to claim the money.

Cecil Gill
“I feel personally I deserve something, so maybe we could all come together and split it, split the reward.”

Around six-thirty on Wednesday evening police showed up at Scott’s rented room and detained him until arrangements could be made for today’s long ride home.

According to information on Oprah’s website, it is her production company that will determine who will receive any reward money. That decision will be based on information provided by law enforcement agencies, including the F.B.I. and presumably the Belize Police Department. The U.S. Embassy in Belize told News Five that while they did receive several calls following the Oprah broadcast, they referred all callers to the police.