Man wanted after theft of camper in 2023 arrested

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Ill. (KBSI) – A second man wanted after a Christmas Day theft of a camper in 2023 was arrested.

Terry A. Flute was wanted on two outstanding arrest warrants. He was arrested by Williamson County sheriff’s deputies on April 12 at 3:05 a.m.

Johnston City police and Williamson County State’s Attorney  assisted Williamson County sheriff’s deputies.

Levi J. Flute was arrested on January 2 at 4:30 p.m. Williamson County Sheriff’s Office deputies checked out numerous citizen tips and arrested Levi J. Flute on Illinois Route 13 at Pittsburg Road.

The camper was recovered by Williamson County sheriff’s deputies later that same day. Warrants were issued for Levi J. Flute and Terry A. Flute. Another suspect, Brittany A. Stanley was arrested on Christmas day.

The search for Levi Flute included Williamson, Franklin and Union counties.

Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Diederich thanked the many citizens who provided information leading to his capture.

Williamson County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the report of a stolen camper on Thompsonville Road in rural Williamson County on Christmas morning at 10:05 a.m.

When deputies arrived, they determined that the camper had been stolen at around 7:15 a.m.

While investigating the theft, deputies obtained video surveillance from a nearby home which showed a suspect vehicle (an orange Hummer) leaving with the stolen camper.

A citizen, having identified it as suspicious, followed the vehicle as it traveled south on Thompsonville Road and recorded the vehicle’s license plate.

At 2:08 p.m. deputies found the suspect vehicle at a Huck’s gas station in Marion.

The driver, identified as Brittany A. Stanley, was arrested for outstanding arrest warrants out of Franklin County. She was taken to the Williamson County Jail.

When asked, Stanley said she was not the owner of the Hummer and that she borrowed it from Terry A. Flute, according to the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

Stanley said Terry Flute had picked her up from West Frankfort “this morning” and traveled to his parent’s house in Marion. Sheriff’s deputies say she denied any involvement in the theft of a camper and that she was with Terry Flute and the vehicle all day and remained adamant that it was not used to pull a camper.

At 4 p.m. Terry Flute was found and voluntarily came to the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office for an interview.

Flute said that Stanley, his brother Levi Flute, and he drove the Hummer to a location that he was not familiar with and stole a camper, according to the sheriff’s office. He said Levi Flute was driving and Stanley was in the passenger seat.

Terry Flute told authorities that Levi Flute hooked the camper up to the vehicle to be able to transport it. He said they took the camper back to Levi Flute’s house on Mocaby Road in rural Thompsonville. Then, he said the camper was pulled around to the backside of the home and was stuck in the mud.

Deputies responded to Levi Flute’s home and verified that the stolen camper was found where Terry Flute had indicated.

The camper was recovered, towed from the scene, and the family was notified that their camper had been recovered.

At 6 p.m., investigators interviewed Stanley at the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. Stanley said that she was with Levi Flute and Terry Flute in the Hummer during the morning hours of Christmas. Stanley said the three of them went to Thompsonville and took the camper and transported it back to Levi Flute’s home. Then, she said she had the title to the camper and bought it off of Southern Swap. Stanley stated the title was in the Hummer in the passenger side sun visor (which was later recovered by investigators), according to the sheriff’s office.

Stanley remained adamant that she bought the camper but did not have proof of purchase, according to the sheriff’s office.

On December 26, at 1040 a.m., Stanley notified jail staff that she would like to speak with investigators again. During this interview, Stanley said she lied to investigators in the previous interview.

Stanley stated that in the early morning hours on Christmas, Levi Flute and Terry Flute picked her up from West Frankfort in the Hummer. Stanley said they went to Levi Flute’s home prior to going to Terry and Levi Flute’s parent’s house in Marion.

She said they left Levi Flute’s to go to Marion and “saw the camper” and decided to steal it. Stanley said they stole the camper and towed it to Levi Flute’s home, according to the sheriff’s office.

She said all three of them went into the camper and “cleaned it out.”

Stanley said she saw Levi Flute gather various items including bedding, pillows, food and personal items in the camper and put them inside the front door of his home.

Stanley said she did not buy the camper and got the title to the camper after Levi Flute found it in the camper oven.

Investigator’s responded to Levi Flute’s home on Mocaby Lane in an attempt to locate him. When they arrived, they saw the front door to the home was partially open. From outside and standing in the front doorway, they saw multiple plastic bags of clothing, a small television and bedding setting on the floor inside the door and in plain view.

Investigator’s photographed the items from outside of the home and sent them to the victim who confirmed the items inside the door belonged to his family and were from the inside of his camper.

A search warrant was obtained and later executed at the home on Mocaby Lane.

During the search, the items confirmed to be owned by the victim and his family were recovered.

Brittany Stanley was cited for theft more than $500 and less than $10,000 – a violation of 720 ILCS 5/16-1; A class 3 felony. Stanley remained in the custody of the Williamson County Jail.

On December 27, the First Judicial Circuit Court of Williamson County issued arrest warrants for Levi J. Flute and Terry A. Flute.

The were both wanted for theft over$500 less than $10,000 – a violation of 720 ILCS 5/16-1; A class 3 felony.

Anyone with information concerning this or any other investigation is asked to contact the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office at 618-997-6541 or the Williamson County Crime Stoppers at 800-414-TIPS (8477). All callers may remain anonymous.