By Rupert Howell
Batesville policemen, with assistance from Panola County Sheriff Department deputies, and U.S. Marshall Service officers were involved in the apprehension Friday afternoon of Lanson Stalf, suspected in the Tuesday murder of his wife Stephanie Autry in Wake Forest, N.C.  and in Friday’s robbery of the Community Bank in Hernando.

An employee of Days Inn here in Batesville reported that Stalf had pulled into the hotel and police were right there to arrest him.

Stalf allegedly robbed the Community Bank of Hernando around 11 a.m. by handing a bank teller a note claiming he had a weapon, according to published reports.

According to law enforcement officials, after the robbery in Hernando, Stalf checked into a hotel in Senatobia using his real name. Recognizing him, the staff called police.

Before law enforcement could arrive, Stalf took off, officers thought on foot, and Panola County Sheriff Department’s K-9 units were in route there toassist in a search there.

Stalf evidently continued to travel in a vehicle south to Batesville where he was arrested.
The arrest brought an end to an exhaustive nationwide search for Stalf.

On Tuesday evening, officers found Stephanie Lynn Autry dead inside her home in North Carolina and Stalf was listed as the primary suspect wanted for her murder, according to published reports.

Those same reports stated there was no sign of the suspect until early Friday morning when he was caught on camera robbing the Community Bank located at 475 Commerce Street in Senatobia.

“This is a coincidence,” the Hernando Police Chief said of the choice of Hernando to rob a bank, stating, “A major intersection passes through our jurisdiction.”

Published reports state Stalf was just released from prison on October 15 after  serving time for another bank robbery back in December of 2013.

Stahl was taken to Panola County Jail by Batesville police and sheriff’s deputies where he was held until extradited to North Carolina.