MA Fugitive Caught After Hiding Out In Georgia Swamp

HARWICH, MA — A Cape Cod man who escaped a Boston correctional hospital and was wanted on several assault charges was arrested in Georgia on Saturday, Massachusetts State Police said.

State Police in a news release Monday said Darren Devine, 30, of Harwich, was spotted walking on Highway 32 in Brantley County, Georgia.

Devine was wanted in Massachusetts on several warrants, including the following charges: Assault with intent to rape, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, domestic assault and battery, strangulation, breaking and entering in the nighttime, vandalism, intimidation, possession of a class B narcotic with intent to distribute, larceny and several traffic violations.

State Police said Devine also broke out of Lemuel Shattuck Hospital in Jamaica Plain. On Sept. 11, 2021, while on an outdoor break, Devine scaled the fence of the correctional hospital and ran away, State Police said.

State Police and members of the U.S. Marshals Boston task force began searching for Devine. They did address checks, interviews and conducted surveillance, but could not locate him. Finding him was difficult, because Devine was good at hiding and surviving in the woods, State Police said.

Authorities worked with other state and local agencies to try and find Devine and searched places in Massachusetts, Main Vermont, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida and along the Canadian border.

On Jan. 9, the Louisa County, Va., Sheriff’s Department told Massachusetts police Devine was a suspect in a larceny investigation there.

Later that week, State Police said they got a tip that Devine was driving with his brother in the Savannah, Georgia area. State authorities teamed up with Georgia law enforcement agencies and found Devine's brother Jordan Devine at a convenience store. Devine was arrested and charged with impeding an investigation and possession of narcotics.

Authorities then used a search team with K-9 units and helicopters to search 3,00 acres of woods to find where they believed Devine was camping. On Friday, State Police said they tracked Devine to a swamp and established a perimeter to keep him from escaping. The next morning, Devine was spotted on the highway and arrested, State Police said.