PALM COAST, Fla. – A man connected to a 14-year-old Virginia cold case murder was arrested in Palm Coast after a traffic stop.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said deputies pulled over Timothy Hickerson, 43, of Palm Coast, after noticing him run a red light in his pickup truck. Deputies learned Hickerson had a warrant for his arrest on charges of murder and burglary. The warrant was out of Prince William County in Virginia.
According to the Prince William County Police Department, Hickerson is a suspect in the 2010 disappearance and presumed murder of Shane Donahue, 23, of Nokesville, Virginia, which is about an hour southwest of Washington D.C.
Donahue was last seen leaving his parent’s home with Hickerson and returning to his home on March 22, 2010. Two days later, Donahue’s family reported him missing. At that time, Donahue did not have access to a vehicle, so there was no vehicle description to provide. Donahue was then entered into the national missing persons database.
The investigation into Donahue’s disappearance went cold until detectives recently received new information and reactivated the investigation. During the investigation, detectives linked Hickerson to a burglary at Donahue’s home that occurred just before Donahue was reported missing. Donahue was never seen or heard from again. Police presumed he was dead, even though his remains were never found.
Prince William County police eventually obtained warrants for Hickerson’s arrest.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said Hickerson had been living in Palm Coast since 2022.
“This shows there is no such thing as a simple traffic stop. This one ended with a fugitive meeting justice who was wanted for a murder that occurred more than 14 years ago,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “If you’re a fugitive, we will catch you regardless of where you ran from and take you to jail.”
Hickerson remains in the Flagler County Jail until he is extradited to Virginia.