Murder Suspect on the Run for a Month Hitchhiked to Wife's Home to Say Goodbye

A suspect in a California murder who spent a month on the run from police turned himself in after making it to his wife’s home in Oregon for a final goodbye, officials said.

Terrance Boyd Dixon, 55, was wanted in the killing of 64-year-old Michael Downie, who was found dead in his home in Concord, California, on July 27, police said.

Downie had been beaten to death with a fire poker, according to a criminal complaint obtained by The Associated Press. 

Investigators reportedly said Downie had told friends he was afraid Dixon would seek revenge because he testified in a decades-old case that ultimately saw Dixon sent to prison.

Downie had purchased a home alarm out of fear and was known to check Dixon’s prison release date, the East Bay Times reported. 

Dixon was convicted in 1998 of attempted murder, kidnapping and robbery, and in 1987 of battery, officials said. He was most recently convicted in 2014 of illegally possessing a firearm. It was not clear which convictions allegedly involved Downie.

Following Downie’s death, Dixon allegedly sold his car in Yolo County, California. From there, he hitchhiked to Bandon, a small town in Oregon where his wife lived, authorities said.

On Aug. 14, a woman later identified as Dixon’s wife called police, saying Dixon wanted to turn himself in. 

Dixon reportedly told police he fled to Oregon because he wanted to hug his wife one last time before surrendering.

Dixon was being held at the Coos County Jail, but will be extradited to Contra Costa County in California, where he was charged on Thursday with murder.

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