Runaway Felon Found Guilty of Murder, Aggravated Robbery

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — A convicted murderer on the run will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Two guilty verdicts were handed down to Christopher Padgett Friday afternoon, even though he wasn’t there.

“We’ve waited a really long time to see some kind of movement and definitely justice in this case,” said Truveda Deere, the murder victim’s mother.

It took the jury about two hours to find Christopher Padgett guilty of first degree murder and especially aggravated robbery.

“I’ve never been involved in a trial before where a suspect has left in the middle of trial, so it was something, a first impression for me,” said prosecutor Cameron Williams. “I think the court handled it appropriately.”

Padgett cut off his ankle bracelet, and never showed up for court.

Williams says he believes that escape played a role in the convictions handed down.

“It was a case based largely on circumstantial evidence, and I think that they got to hear about him running, him cutting off the band, and I think that was another piece of circumstantial evidence,” Williams said.

Padgett killed taxi cab driver Nathan Deere in a robbery back in 2012.

Deere’s family is pleased with the verdict, but will be even happier when Padgett is back behind bars.

“We feel confident that the Chattanooga police department will find him and he will be brought to justice,” Truveda Deere said.

On the murder conviction, Padgett was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

His sentencing hearing on the aggravated robbery conviction will be December 15, and prosecutors hope he’ll be there.