Overview

• The Lee County Sheriff’s Office detained the wrong man during a funeral, mistaking him for Willard Eugene Smith, a fugitive wanted for a 1995 murder.
• The man was released after eight hours in custody when investigators confirmed he had no connection to the decades-old case.
• Family members accused deputies of using excessive force during the arrest, including drawing weapons and deploying tear gas at unarmed mourners.
• Sheriff Brian Estes defended the operation, citing tips about aliases and the urgency of solving the cold case, while acknowledging the timing was unfortunate.
• Authorities have offered a $10,000 reward for information on Smith’s whereabouts and are reviewing arrest protocols following public criticism.