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Man tentatively identified as Kingsport fugitive Donald Lynch arrested in Mexico

Published October 13th, 2007 | 2 Comments

A man believed to be Donald Edward Lynch of Kingsport was taken into custody in Matamoros, Mexico, Saturday, according to the Kingsport Police Department.

Lynch was profiled on "America's Most Wanted" more than a year ago and faces 11 counts of rape of a child, 38 counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and five counts of aggravated sexual battery.

He is also wanted by the FBI on charges of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

Before being extradited across the border, Lynch, who claimed his real name was Reynaldo Price, denied the charges against him.

According to an Accociated Press article he told reporters, "It's `cause I'm black. Tennessee is the most prejudiced state in the country."

Lynch said he'd been living in Matamoros, working at a hotel.

"In the four years I was here, numerous kids came to the hotel and I didn't do anything to them," he said.

In February 2003, two sisters ages 7 and 11 told investigators that Lynch repeatedly molested them. He had been baby-sitting the girls.

When police raided his Kingsport house, they found more than 600 videotapes, 300 Polaroids, pornographic movies, a video camera, a loaded handgun and magazine clippings of young girls, according to the "America's Most Wanted" Web site. The photos and videos showed girls in sexually explicit positions.

Investigators also accuse Lynch of victimizing eight other girls, the youngest 3 years old.

Lyncy fled the area before he could be arrested.

He was apprehended later that same year in New York and returned to Sullivan County, where he was held in the county jail.

Lynch was eventually able to post a $200,000 bond.

In October 2004, he failed to appear for a scheduled court hearing, and he had not been seen since.

Extensive efforts have been made to locate Lynch. He was the subject of a number of three segments on �America�s Most Wanted,� and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation placed him on its Top Ten Most Wanted list.

The arrest is the result of a joint effort by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Kingsport Police Department, and law enforcement officials from Matamoros and Brownsville.

Cameron County Sheriff Omar Lucio said Lynch was being held Saturday night at the Carrizalez-Rucker Detention Center in Olmito.

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I forget who the judge was that unleashed Lynch back onto society to potentially harm more children... but the excuse at the time was that 200,000 ? bond was the stiffest bond the judge could impose for the charges.

anyhow...from what I have read on the net today Lynch has already tossed out the race card and also was barking and growling at reporters then telling them that he was crazy....

Looks like is covering all the defense bases.

Lets hope that law has changed or that after leaving the area twice to escape a trial he will now be considered a flight risk and will be jailed without bond.

Kristy Christian | 10/14/2007 - 6:43 PM - ( Comment

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Why was this person ever allowed to post bond to begin with? Wasn't he regarded as a flight risk? Regardless, I'm very glad they caught him.

Richard Brown | 10/13/2007 - 10:05 PM - ( Comment

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