U.S. Marshals Capture Blair County Escapee in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA - Isaiah Tilghman, 33, who escaped from the Blair County Prison in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, on December 3rd, 2023, has been captured. The Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force in Philadelphia apprehended Tilghman at 11:00 a.m. in the 3300 block of Aramingo Avenue in Philadelphia.

Tilghman was being held in Blair County for drug related offenses and violation of his  Pennsylvania State Parole. Tilghman has since been charged with escape, flight to avoid apprehension, and other charges in relation to the escape. 

Since escaping, U.S. Marshals pursued numerous leads suggesting Tilghman was traveling throughout Pennsylvania. The 4 month fugitive investigation came to an end this morning, over 200 miles away from Blair County.

Throughout the week, the U.S. Marshals led Fugitive Task Force developed information Tilghman was presently in the Kensington section of Philadelphia. On Wednesday, surveillance operations were established at residences Tilghman was believed to be hiding and at 10:00 a.m. this morning, Marshals observed Tilghman in the 1800 block of East Schiller Street. Marshals followed Tilghman, who was operating a black BMW, to the Planet Fitness at 3300 Aramingo Avenue. The task force then asked for Philadelphia Police and Philadelphia K9 officers to assist in the arrest operation. At approximately 11:00 a.m., Tilghman exited the fitness center and was immediately surrounded by over 20 investigators and placed under arrest without incident. Tilghman was then transported to an undisclosed correctional facility where he awaits transport to Blair County to appear for his escape charges. 

“This arrest was a result of Fugitive Task Forces in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, diligently working together, to capture a dangerous escapee. The Marshals Service is unequivocally the best in the business at finding people who do not wish to be found and this arrest reinforces that fact” said Robert Clark, Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal for the Eastern Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force.

The Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force is a team of law enforcement officers led by U.S. Marshals in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties. The task force’s objective is to seek out and arrest violent crime fugitives. Membership agencies include the Philadelphia Police Department, Pennsylvania State Parole Officers, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Attorney General Agents, Chester Police Department, and Bucks County Sheriffs.