Reward Increased to $50,000 for Information Leading to the Arrest of Lester Eubanks

Washington, DC - The reward for information leading to the arrest of wanted fugitive Lester Eubanks has been increased to $50,000, U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott announced today.

Lester Eubanks was convicted in 1966 of the murder of 14-year-old Mary Ellen Deener from Mansfield, Ohio. Although Eubanks was sentenced to death, in 1972 his sentence was commuted to life in prison.

In December 1973, Eubanks was permitted to leave the prison while participating in an honor assignment, a Christmas shopping trip with other inmates. Eubanks failed to return to the designated pick up location and has been on the run ever since.

The U.S. Marshals Service in Northern Ohio began investigating this case in 2015 and three years later added the fugitive to its 15 Most Wanted list. In November 2019 Eubanks was the subject of an ABC News Investigates podcast titled Have You Seen This Man? Beginning Oct. 19 Eubanks was featured on the Netflix series Unsolved Mysteries: Volume 2, in an episode titled Death Row Fugitive.

As of today, the reward has been increased from $25,000 to up to $50,000 for information that directly leads to the arrest of Lester Eubanks.

Anyone with information concerning any wanted fugitive can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833), or tips may also be submitted via the USMS tips app.

Eubanks, 75, is a 5-foot-11 black male with black hair and brown eyes. At the time of his disappearance, he weighed approximately 175 pounds. Other unique physical characteristics include a mole under his left eye. He may be using the alias Victor Young to hide his true identity. In 2017, the U.S. Marshals released an age-progression photo (below) of Eubanks.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the nearest U.S. Marshals Service District Office, the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102, or submit a tip using USMS Tips.