News 12 First at Five / September 3, 2010

Officers are still looking for a man wanted in two states. They say Franklin Wright is wanted for two murders in Aiken County and a violent assault Wednesday night in downtown Augusta.

News 12 learned Aiken County may have had their man at one point. Aiken County investigators say they questioned Wright about the two murders very recently, before the attack of Jennie Hope inside her Augusta convenience store on Wednesday night. They say Wright was one of multiple people questioned in the Aiken County murders case. Aiken County authorities could not say why they were not able to take Wright into custody after questioning him.

We are now closing in on twenty four hours of this manhunt. Neighbors say it's terrifying that someone so violent could be so close to home.

Candy says her dog ran off Thursday night, sniffing and barking at something in the woods on Jones Street. Seconds later, she says deputy cars swarmed their neighborhood. "Police everywhere! It was like in the movies. Then the police were out in the helicopters shining their spotlights in the wooded area over here- it was just seconds after I came in from getting my dog."

She says they told her to lock herself and kids inside as they scoured the area for Franklin Wright. "He obviously must have been in the woods. I didn't see him, but I'm assuming my dog must have seen him. I mean this is where they say he was dropped off- 15 feet up here from my house." Candy points to Railroad Avenue.

Investigators say Wright is considered "armed and extremely dangerous." The area is calmer now, but Misty Hilton says she's still nervous to be outside. "Please be alert, please be on the lookout. He's armed, he's dangerous, he has nothing to loose. He has no fear." Candy adds, "I'm gonna be worried until they catch him."

Barbara Elmy lives nearby, too, and slept at her daughter's house last night to be safe. She says she's trying not to be scared. "I was an Army wife for twenty-five years so I don't panic about things."

Authorities say Wright was last seen on foot near Railroad Avenue and Jones street. Misty is convinced he's still in the area. "Honestly, I believe he's under somebody's house, somebody who's at work, he's cooped up there. He's gonna move around at night when it's cooled down. It's too hot for him to be out moving around now."

Wright was last seen with a handgun, apparently on foot and without any transportation. "Very scary, very devastating about Ms. Byrd. I've been following the case but never dreamed it would hit this close to home."

Again, Investigators say Wright is armed and dangerous and could be in Hephzibah near Railroad Avenue and Jones Street. People in that area are encouraged to be extra careful. Lock doors and window and report any suspicious people immediately.

Wright is from Beech Island; Schenker and Byrd were killed in Aiken County. Right now it's only speculation as to what he was doing in Hephzibah. Neighbors tell us that relatives of one victim, Shalamar Byrd, live near those streets where Wright was spotted in Hephzibah. Investigators say he has no ties to the area.

The search for Wright forced some Richmond County students to stay inside all day. The school system says all public schools in Blythe and Hephzibah were put on soft lock-down. Students were not allowed outside and teachers kept a close eye on entrances and exits, making sure no strangers walked in.

Misty has a daughter at Blythe Elementary School. "The teachers and the principal did assure me everything was going to be okay. There was a Richmond County Board of Education cop there letting them to know to keep the school locked up. There was no outdoor activity, nothing. It was to remain on lock-down." The soft lock-down only affected those schools in the search area.