U.S. Marshals arrested a parolee Saturday in West Virginia after police said the convict killed his Maryland probation officer and fled the state.

Montgomery County police said federal agents nabbed Emanuel Edward Sewell, 54, while he was driving on Interstate 64 near Hurricane, West Virginia, around 5 p.m. Saturday.

Police said Sewell — a registered sex offender who was released from prison in 2021 — is facing murder charges in the Friday slaying of his 33-year-old parole officer, Davis Martinez.  

Sewell is being held in Putnam County, West Virginia, and awaits extradition back to Montgomery County.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said Mr. Martinez became the first parole officer in the state to be killed by a client on duty.

“Agent Martinez served with distinction and our state is safer because of him — our entire state grieves his loss along with those he held dear,” Mr. Moore said in a Saturday statement. “I would like to thank our dedicated law enforcement community for their relentless and successful efforts in apprehending the suspect and for their unwavering pursuit of justice for Agent Martinez, his family, his friends and colleagues.”

Police said Mr. Martinez was killed Friday night during a resident check on Sewell in Chevy Chase.

The parole officer arrived at a home on the 2800 block of Terrace Drive, police said, but failed to report back to work afterward.

Authorities said officers sent to check on Mr. Martinez’s welfare found him dead from “multiple injuries” inside the home. Police haven’t said what kind of injuries the victim suffered.

A medical examiner determined the death to be a homicide.

“This loss impacts not only his family, who we again send our deepest sympathies to as well, and colleagues, but also the community that he served,” Police Chief Marcus Jones said Saturday. “Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to ensure the safety of our community and the death of agent Martinez is a stark reminder of the dangers we face every day.”

Mr. Martinez was a six-year veteran with the Maryland Department of Public Safety & Correctional Services.

Department head Carolyn Scruggs said Mr. Martinez was alone during his visit to Sewell, which is normal for parole officers.

She also said Sewell served 25 years of a 29-year sentence and “had mandatory release.”

• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.