The Alabama Bureau of Investigation, a division of the Alabama Department of Public Safety, announces that Deandra Marquis Lee, 22, was arrested for murder at approximately 11 a.m. today in Selma.

ABI Chief Neil Tew credited the capture of this fugitive to a cooperative effort of numerous law enforcement agencies. Tew went on to acknowledge significant assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department, Lowndes County District Attorney’s Office, Selma Police Department, Dallas County Sheriff’s Department and Montgomery Police Department.

Through investigative leads, tips from the public and collaborative resource sharing among law enforcement partners, credible information was developed leading to Lee’s location, an apartment complex near Vaughn Medical Center in Selma. Earlier today, law enforcement officers converged on the scene and evacuated residents in the respective apartment building. Authorities attempted to initiate communication with occupants of the apartment without success.

After an Alabama State Trooper tactical team made entry into the apartment, the team immediately took Lee into custody. He then was transported to ABI Headquarters in Montgomery. Lee is charged with three counts of murder in the deaths of 9-year-old twins Jordan and Taylor Dejerinett of Montgomery and their 73-year-old caregiver, Jack Mac Girdner of Hope Hull.

Col. Hugh B. McCall, the director of the Alabama Department of Public Safety, said this arrest sends a clear and strong message: “Alabama -- both law enforcement agencies and the public -- will not tolerate such heinous crimes in our society. We will pursue tirelessly until capture.”

Nothing more is available at this time as this investigation continues. The ABI encourages anyone with information on the triple homicide to call the Crime Tip Line at (800) 392-8011.