MANHUNT OVER: Fatal hit and run suspect in custody

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MANHUNT OVER: Fatal hit and run suspect in custody

REMSEN (WKTV) - New York State Police in Remsen say Royce Beck, the man who was wanted as a person of interest in connection to a fatal hit and run accident, has been taken into custody.

A search had been underway in the area of northern Oneida County. Beck was seen in a wooded area near Ava on Friday. He was taken into custody without incident.

The incident happened around 11:00 PM Wednesday on Osceola Road in West Leyden. An autopsy showed Deborah Royce, of Holland Patent, died of massive cranial trauma. Police say that Royce used to date Beck. Other than leaving the scene of a fatal accident, police still are not positive of what, if any, other charges Royce Beck would face.

Beck has been on the loose since the accident. Police also say Beck got a 27 minute headstart before they arrived to the scene. According to the New York State Criminal Justice website, Beck is a Level 2 sex offender, and was arrested in January 1997 for sexual abuse against a 16 year old girl. He is also said to go by the name of "Edward Beck."

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Tuesday, Sep 2 at 11:54 AM Concerned Citizen 1 wrote ...

I see Debbie's son is at Oneida County Jail, charged with Assault 3, what a great kid.

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Saturday, Aug 30 at 12:45 PM Concerned Citizen 1 wrote ...

I hope WKTV and the Utica OD stay on this story so the public knows the truth and I really hope the truth of what happened comes out. Nobody and I mean nobody deserves what happened to Ms. Royce. Accident or not, he should not have hid and he should do time, he should be under the 3 strike rule.

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Wednesday, Aug 27 at 10:53 AM Messed up, wrote ...

for people to sit and judge a woman who was just murdered and put a label on her as cracked up and crackhead. do you not have any values or respect for those who just lost a loved one? what if that was your mom or your friend or your family member? would you want people in the public putting them down and labeling them as a crachead? NO...if anybody is messed up its ed the person who was a registered sex offender and obviously not right. learn to show some respect especially for someone who died

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Wednesday, Aug 27 at 10:47 AM why? wrote ...

someone needs to assure that whoever harbored ed in theyre home while police searched for him gets some kind of punishment its not fair that once they catch a deadly criminal the person who helped hide him from authorities isnt punished,thats not right obviously whoever helped him run from police is just as much of a idiot as ed

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Wednesday, Aug 27 at 12:39 AM Let me tell you... wrote ...

You dont know ANYTHING about Debra or her son, all of you that think you have a clue, try again. You dont know. You judge a book by it's cover. It's sad how a well respected & educated woman like Debra can fall victim to slander from her fellow neighbors...Those of you who probably knew her when your children were young and everything was all good, whose children used to play with your kids...who probably counseled some losers you know that went to jail... And this is how you act

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Monday, Aug 25 at 3:59 PM Merna wrote ...

To the person who thinks the stain in the road is from the hit and run, it isn't. It's from a head on collision in which oil spilled and was sopped up with kitty litter. It's been there for months.

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Monday, Aug 25 at 1:58 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Debra was cracked up and so was Royce she jumpped he got scared and ran all the stories out there are just that stories let the cops figure it out not the public leave other familys out of your guesses no one helped him hide if anything they helped the cops to get him to turn himself in when the whole story comes out you will all look foolish

6319999 Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Monday, Aug 25 at 12:30 AM MAC wrote ...

SHE JUMPED AND HE ACCIDENTLY HIT HER

6306049 Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Sunday, Aug 24 at 8:40 PM where is Debra? wrote ...

Why is the news so focused on this convict? They are only writing about him but a woman and mother is dead! What about Debra? She had been an educated woman trying to make a difference in counseling troubled people. Why is there not evn an obituary? Where is the rest of the family and her son's father? What is going on here? Is Debra just forgotten? I don't believe she jumped from the car. This man is capable of unspeakable acts, especially against females. I think he did it intentionally.

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Sunday, Aug 24 at 6:21 PM What wrote ...

That guy looks like Fred Burlin!He's a loser too!

6300504 Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Sunday, Aug 24 at 6:04 PM family affair wrote ...

now two counties can be burdened with our tax dollars. Him in Lewis county jail, and his brother in oneida county jail. He is garbage and anyone who knows him knows this. Bring back the death penalty I can think of better ways to spend my money then feeding,housing,medical,then on these dopes. But then again people like them is why i can go on vacation,have a house and a nice ride. Thanks.

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Sunday, Aug 24 at 1:43 PM Not Right wrote ...

The New York State Police are not charging the woman who hid him for days.

6296689 Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Sunday, Aug 24 at 11:43 AM trivial conversation wrote ...

Perhaps those of you bickering over words written & guilt should come drive over the unavoidable blood stain that stretches across both lanes of the road and is two to three feet wide. People like you never cease to amaze me.

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Sunday, Aug 24 at 10:56 AM poepoe wrote ...

iT WAS AN ACCIDENT, SHE JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR. HE FREAKED....THATS IT.

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Sunday, Aug 24 at 10:23 AM SW101 wrote ...

I have to agree, this article is just poorly written. Guilty, not guilty, no matter, if you run over someone and run, your sure the hell guilty of something, like... hitting someone and running. Could have been an accident, but once you run, its a whole new ball game.

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Sunday, Aug 24 at 1:21 AM UpNorth wrote ...

THis...it said allegedly, which is not an accusatory suppositional statement. I agree that it is poorly written, but no time does the article come out and state he is guilty.

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Sunday, Aug 24 at 12:52 AM dasjmy wrote ...

I'm glad he was caught. It could have been alot worse then it already is. Thanks

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Sunday, Aug 24 at 12:08 AM THis wrote ...

story is awful. It is poorly written and is all over the place. How can it state that he killer Royce if he hasn't confessed or gone to trial? He could have and more than likely did do it, but isn't this a bit of irresponsible reporting?

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Saturday, Aug 23 at 10:23 PM Parent wrote ...

Its about time. Hopefully justice will be served.

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Saturday, Aug 23 at 10:18 PM Thank God wrote ...

Thank you so much!!!!

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