FOX Files: Hiding in Plain Sight. College Student Was Wanted

GREENVILLE, IL. (KTVI) – Kids at a small Christian College learned about a fellow student’s suspected past.

A suspect, wanted for attempted murder, was found hiding in the student body at a small Christian school.  It shocked the students at rural Greenville College, who suddenly saw U.S. Marshals storming a dormitory.  Investigative reporter Chris Hayes takes you inside the story of a wanted suspect hiding in plain site.

50 miles from the St. Louis skyline, Greenville College offers an escape from City life.

VP of enrollment Michael Ritter said, “People say hi to each other. They look each other in the eye.”

1600 students pursuing diverse studies under a Christian foundation.  Student Maria Rodriguez, “Even people you may not know on a more personal basis, you still say ‘hi’ and smile to each other. That`s not the same on other campuses.”

Then in mid November, Rodriguez remembers thinking “What`s happening? Why are there U.S. Marshals on campus?”

Federal Agents raided Janssen Hall.  Ritter added, “It was early in the morning, I think before most classes started.”

They took away freshman Jamal McDaniel, a 20-year-old student, wanted for a charge of attempted murder.  It was a reported shooting 800 miles away, in Baltimore.  That shooting was reportedly a couple weeks before Greenville College classes began.  It was as if McDaniel came to the small town to hide.

At a campus where everyone seems to know everyone, McDaniel appeared to be relatively unknown.  He signed up for the football team, but reportedly quit after a couple of weeks.

Then suddenly, everyone knew McDaniel’s name after federal agents came looking for him.  St. Maria Rodriguez remembers the aftermath.  She said, “Students were talking a little and one of the freshman girls on my softball team, she told me what happened and she said it was a tad bit scary.”

It was a crime story worthy of Rodriguez`s studies.  She`s emphasizing forensic science with plans to work in a crime lab.  She added, “It`s really interesting to see my present and future dreams kind of coincide for a little bit.”

She didn`t expect to see an example outside of her textbook.

Enrollment VP Ritter said, “Our campus crime stats are very boring to look at, lots of zeros.”

Nothing violent shows up in those stats.  Ritter said that`s what made this such a big story in Greenville, but it`s not what speaks loudest.  He said, “We always hope we can get attention because of the great things our students and faculty are doing so that`s kind of an interesting side with this.  I mean we want our students to be out front.  We want people to know how amazing they are and the good things they are doing.”

McDaniel`s family in Baltimore says this is not what it seems.  McDaniel is now out on bond and he hopes to continue a college life somewhere, after he proves his innocence.

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Attempted Murder Suspect Found At Greenville College

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