Gaskin murder suspect caught - update

The suspect in Monday’s murder of a Gaskin Community resident is in “custody”.  
At around 5:15 Thursday afternoon, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputies stopped Jeffrey Allen Yates north of Laurel Hill.

Yates was reportedly driving the 1996 F-350, blue-colored Ford dually pick-up truck belonging to the murder victim.  The stop took place without violence on New Ebenezer Road in Northern Okaloosa County near the community of Laurel Hill, about 1.5 miles south of the Alabama Line.

Hayward Thomas, Paxton Mayor and retired Walton County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant, spotted the vehicle on SR 85 and CR 393. He then placed a 9-1-1 call to Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. He advised them that he was behind the vehicle. Okaloosa Investigators returning from school out of state and were driving behind Thomas’s vehicle. Additional deputies in the area assisted in the arrest of Yates.

During the low speed pursuit, Yates discarded a firearm and clothing from the vehicle, these items were recovered. Yates continued for about another mile before he pulled over and was taken into custody. The victims vehicle has been transported to a secured area where it will be processed by the FDLE Crime Lab.

Yates was being sought in the death of Elizabeth Andrews.  The 60-year-old woman was found by a caregiver inside her State Highway 83 North home on Monday morning.  The victim’s vehicle was missing, and authorities believe that the suspect was in possession of it.

The 41-year-old suspect will be booked into the Okaloosa County Jail in Crestview.  That’s where Yates will make his first court appearance before a judge. He will be transported to the Walton County Jail at a later time. He is charged with murder and other felony charges.