Four people wanted in separate Memphis murder and child-sex cases are now in custody, including suspects sought for a 2020 homicide and alleged assaults involving children as young as 9.
The Memphis Safe Task Force arrested 30 people in all, including two people wanted for murder and two wanted on child-rape warrants, according to WREG. The roundup placed four long-running or serious cases back in the court system at once.
The operation is part of a larger multi-agency push rather than a single Memphis Police Department detail. The City of Memphis describes the task force as a federal, state and local partnership focused on violent and street crime, with the Tennessee National Guard providing support while local law enforcement handles arrests and warrants.
Two Murder Warrants End In Memphis Arrests
Albert Boyce was wanted in connection with a second-degree murder case dating to 2020, while Decoreion McDowell was also wanted on a second-degree murder charge. Both men were arrested at Memphis residences and are being held on $500,000 bonds, WREG reported.
McDowell also has a reported criminal history involving the alleged robbery of juveniles at gunpoint. The arrests did not immediately resolve the underlying cases, but they do clear a major hurdle for prosecutors trying to move the homicide charges forward.
Child Sex Crime Warrants Involved Young Victims
Jose Navarro was arrested in the back room of a home in the Raleigh-Frayser area on warrants charging him with two counts of rape of a child and two counts of aggravated sexual battery. The task force said one victim was 12 years old, and Navarro is being held on a $500,000 bond.
Terence Gray was arrested on Chelsea Avenue and faces charges of aggravated rape of a child, aggravated sexual battery, continuous sexual abuse of a child and theft of property under $1,000. The task force identified a 9-year-old victim in Gray’s case, and he is also being held on a $500,000 bond.
Next Steps In Court
All four defendants are accused, not convicted, and the charges will be tested in court. Navarro is scheduled to appear Monday morning, while the other cases are expected to proceed through Shelby County’s criminal courts as prosecutors review the warrants and evidence.
