OLNEY, IL/WALTON COUNTY, FL — After 3 weeks of searching, an Olney man has finally been found in Florida and taken into custody in connection with a murder in Richland County earlier this month.

Wednesday law enforcement officials arrested 18-year-old Rick A. Meador of Olney at a campground on a warrant for First-Degree Murder. Authorities also took a 16-year-old female Olney resident who was listed as missing and endangered in connection with the murder investigation.

On September 6, 2020, Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Zone 8 officials were requested by the Olney Police Department to assist with a homicide investigation at the intersection of North Walnut and East Laurel Street in Olney.  An adult male, later identified as 19-year-old Kyle M. Johnson from Olney, was found with multiple gunshot wounds and transported to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Through information gathered during the investigation, a suspect was developed, and an arrest warrant for First-Degree Murder issued through the office of Richland County State’s Attorney for Meador. The search for the couple ultimately led to Mt. Vernon where officers located a vehicle the two had likely been driving but the pair was nowhere to be found and remained at large until their arrest yesterday.

Meador is currently being held in the Walton County, FL jail awaiting extradition.  The 16-year-old juvenile female was taken into protective custody by the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center.