Thomas Brown

THOMASVILLE, Ga. — A Pennsylvania man wanted for two murders in North Florida and for parole violations in his home state came to Thomasville for drug treatment and, authorities said, confessed to the killings.

Thomas Joseph Brown was picked up in Cook County by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and taken to the Crisis Center in Thomasville for treatment of issues with heroin addiction, Capt. Maurice Holmes, Thomasville Police Department Criminal Investigations (CID) Division commander, said.

Authorities here learned Brown had outstanding parole-violation warrants in Pennsylvania, where he had served prison terms for home invasion, burglary and robbery.

The Jacksonville (Florida) Sheriff’s Office was looking for Brown in the murders of his girlfriend and her uncle in Jacksonville earlier this month.

Brown was removed from the crisis Center and transported to the Thomas County Jail. Jacksonville authorities came to Thomasville, interviewed Brown and returned to Jacksonville to review evidence in the killings.

Jacksonville officers were accompanied by a British Broadcasting Corporation television film crew making a documentary about American justice. The documentary will follow the Brown case through the investigation and prosecution.

The day after Jacksonville authorities were in Thomasville, Brown, 34, wanted to talk to local investigators.

Holmes said, “He detailed how he committed the murders.”

Brown reportedly told Sgt. Toby Knifer, police CID assistant commander, he strangled his girlfriend and her uncle with shoe strings, then slit their throats.

Said Knifer, “He is very cold. He said, ‘I got mad, and I killed her.”

With two states wanting Brown back in their jurisdiction, extradition issues surfaced.

Brown refused extradition to Pennsylvania, but agreed to being extradited to Florida, said Lt. Tim Watkins, Thomas County Sheriff’s Office chief investigator.

Florida authorities transported Brown to Jacksonville.

Holmes expressed concern about Brown being in the community.

“It shows how easily people can get transported into your community,” the commander said.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820