U.S. Marshals, FBI Looking for Violent Fugitive Wanted for Girlfriend’s Murder

Hammond, IN - The U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force and the FBI are seeking the public’s help in locating a violent fugitive wanted by the Lake County Sheriff’s Department for murder and are offering a combined reward of up to $15,000 ($10,000 from the FBI and $5,000 from the USMS) for information leading directly to his arrest.

Samuel Edwards, 37, of Harvey, is alleged to have shot and killed his girlfriend Ieisha Jefferson, 31, of Gary, in front of their five young children Dec. 27, 2022. 

The Lake County Prosecutor’s Office charged him on Jan. 13 with one count of murder and five counts of felony child neglect.  

Edwards is a Black man with a medium complexion, short hair and possibly thick beard. He stands 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs approximately 230 pounds. He has a mole beneath his left and right eye and several moles between his eyes. 

Edwards is known to frequent the Harvey and Chicago, Illinois, areas and has close ties there as well as in northwest Indiana. 

Anyone with information regarding Edward’s current location should contact the nearest U.S. Marshals office or FBI office (1-800-225-5324). Tips may be submitted by phone to the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-877-WANTED2 (1-877-926-8332) or sent via the USMS Tips App.   

The USMS (U.S. Marshals Service) Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force (GLRFTF) began operations in June 2003 and was among the first regional fugitive task forces to become fully operational following the Presidential Threat Protection Act of 2000. The GLRFTF has partnership agreements with more than 96 federal, state, and local agencies and operates in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. The GLRFTF has apprehended more than 112,000 fugitives since its inception and is always striving to make communities safer.