Virginia Man On Run After Killing Girlfriend, Her Father: Police

NEWPORT NEWS, VA – A reward has been offered for tips that lead to the arrest of a former Newport News man on the run since he allegedly murdered his former girlfriend and her father in front of their children. The U.S. Marshals Service on Thursday asked for the public’s help in tracking down murder suspect Amos Jacob Arroyo, 32, who has been on the run since July 2017.

Around 6:15 p.m. on July 30, Newport News police responded to reports of a shooting at a trailer on York River Lane. Patricia Joseph and her father, Jessie Barnes, were killed in the shooting. Joseph is Arroyo’s ex-girlfriend and is the mother of their two children who were inside the trailer at the time of the murders.

Newport News Police identified Arroyo as the suspected shooter. The following day, arrest warrants were issued charging Arroyo with two counts of first-degree murder and related charges. The U.S. Marshals were then asked to help track Arroyo down.

Federal marshals found Arroyo's vehicle Aug. 1 abandoned in a Walmart parking lot off Interstate 95 in Pooler, Georgia. Camera footage shows Arroyo in the Walmart on the morning of July 31, the day after the murders, purchasing a backpack, underwear, socks, a hooded sweatshirt, pants, and T-shirts. After checking out, Arroyo walked out of the Walmart and left his vehicle behind. This is the last confirmed sighting of Arroyo.

“He hit the ground running,” said U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia Bobby Mathieson, in a news release. “The morning after the murders he was already 500 miles away. By the time we found his vehicle in Georgia, we were a day behind him. Not only did he leave his car behind, we believe he left his old identity behind, as well.”

Identification cards belonging to Arroyo were found in his abandoned vehicle, and investigators believe he is now using a fake name.

Law enforcement says Arroyo has ties all over the country, including:

• Born: Bronx, New York
• Grew up: West Covina, California, still has strong ties all over California, including the city of Azusa
• Last known residence: Newport News, Virginia
• Last seen: Pooler, Georgia, July 31, 2017

Investigators say he also has ties to Coral Springs, Florida; Georgia, Newark, Delaware; New York; Norfolk, Virginia; Puerto Rico and Texas.

Arroyo speaks Spanish and has previously traveled to Mexico. He is known to have dated older men and women in the past, and is alleged to have used them for money, authorities say. Arroyo spent four months in the Army in 2004.

“The Newport News Police Department continues to be completely vested in this case and remains cooperative with the U.S. Marshals,” said Newport News Police Chief Mike Grinstead. “It is our sincerest hope that they succeed in apprehending Mr. Arroyo so the family receives the closure they deserve and justice is served.”

Arroyo should be considered armed and dangerous. A reward of up to $3,000 is being offered for information leading to his arrest. Anyone with information about Arroyo is asked to call the U.S. Marshals at 1-877-Wanted-2 (1-877-926-8332) or email usms.wanted@usdoj.gov.

Photo of Amos Jacob Arroyo, courtesy of the U.S. Marshals office