U.S. Marshals Task Force Arrests Moultrie Co. Child Rape Suspect on the Run for Over 2 Decades

Springfield, IL – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force (GLRFTF), in conjunction with the Midwest Violent Fugitive Task Force (MWVFTF), arrested in Branson, Missouri, May 11 a serial rapist who has been on the run since he posted bail in 2000 and failed to appear for a court hearing in Moultrie County.

Herman Carroll, 72, was wanted on a 2001 failure to appear charge out of Moultrie County stemming from a 2000 Moultrie County warrant issued for Carroll, charging him with five counts: Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child, Criminal Sexual Assault, Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse, Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child, and Criminal Sexual Assault.

Carroll had been arrested July 3, 2000, for sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl. He had previous convictions of child sex offenses in 1983 and 1993.

The USMS GLRFTF, Central District of Illinois, adopted the Carroll investigation in June 2022, and the task force began an extensive and detailed investigation into his whereabouts.  This multiagency investigation gained assistance from the Central District of Illinois U.S. Attorney’s Office, Moultrie County State’s Attorney’s Office, Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office, Moultrie County Sheriff’s Department, Stone County (Missouri) Sheriff’s Office, Illinois Department of Corrections, MWVFTF, Branson Police Department, Illinois Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center, Missouri FUSION Center, USMS Eastern District of Texas, USMS District of Alaska, USMS Western District of Arkansas, and the USMS District of Maryland.  

On May 8, the USMS GLRFTF investigation revealed information indicating Carroll was likely residing in Branson, and a collateral lead was sent to the USMS MWVFTF, Western District of Missouri.  Carroll was taken safely into custody three days later and transported to the Taney County Jail, Missouri, to await extradition.

The USMS GLRFTF is a multiagency task force with divisions in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.  The Central District of Illinois has task force locations in Springfield, Peoria, and Urbana and is composed of members from Springfield PD, Sangamon Co. State’s Attorney’s Office, Adams Co. SO, Macoupin Co. SO, Illinois Department of Corrections Apprehension, Sherman PD, Peoria Co. SO, Peoria PD, Bloomington PD, Normal PD, Knox Co. SO, Decatur PD, Champaign Co. State’s Attorney’s Office, Champaign PD, Danville PD, Kankakee Co. SO, Bradley PD, Iroquois Co. SO, and the Illinois National Guard Counterdrug Task Force.