Crime House Daily — Night Watch: Fugitive Faked His Own Kidnapping: The Hunt For Anthony Lennon

Host: Katie Ring
Date: December 3, 2025

Episode Overview

In this Night Watch episode, host Katie Ring investigates the astonishing 13-year fugitive run of convicted child sex offender Anthony Lennon. The episode reveals how Lennon staged his own kidnapping at a motel, vanished without a trace, and adopted a new identity before his dramatic capture in 2025. Katie walks listeners through the original crimes, the botched arrest, the cold-case investigation, and the multi-state manhunt, highlighting the persistence of law enforcement in pursuing dangerous fugitives. The episode underscores the importance of relentless investigative work and ends with a message of resolve for justice for victims.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Anthony Lennon’s Criminal Background

• Initial Charges and Conviction in Oklahoma

  • In 2008, then-27-year-old Anthony Lennon, a University of Oklahoma student, was charged with five counts of aggravated child pornography. His friend had discovered the material on Anthony's computer and reported it to police.
  • Investigators found 50 gigabytes of graphic material, qualifying each count as “aggravated” (over 100 images per count).
  • Lennon made a "blind plea" in 2010, meaning no sentencing deal, risking the possibility of life in prison.
  • He ended up with a 20-year suspended sentence and probation instead of prison time.
  • Quote: “Which to me is one of the biggest problems in our legal system because what do you mean you’re just letting a child predator back onto the street with no repercussions.” (Katie Ring, 05:20)

• Probation Violations and New Offenses

  • Lennon violated probation by failing to register as a sex offender and using a computer, which was prohibited.
  • In 2011, further investigation discovered Lennon had again amassed child abuse imagery, particularly brutal and involving infants.
  • In March 2012, he was charged with eight new counts of possession of child pornography.
  • Before law enforcement could arrest him, Lennon disappeared.

2. The Staged Kidnapping at the Super 8 Motel (March 12, 2012)

• Discovery of the Staged Crime Scene

  • Lennon vanished from his job at a Super 8 south of Oklahoma City.
  • Police found:
    • Empty cash register.
    • Scattered papers.
    • A plate of food left behind.
    • Deep red footprints leading to an ice machine, a pool of blood, his employee badge, buttons from his shirt, and a shoe.
  • Quote: “All of these items seemed carefully placed, like they were left behind intentionally.” (Katie Ring, 10:51)
  • Initial suspicion was of a kidnapping, but clues pointed to a self-staged disappearance.
  • Lennon had emptied his bank account the day before and told bank staff he was "in trouble with the law."

• Law Enforcement Response

  • Moore Police Department quickly involved the U.S. Marshals for their fugitive expertise.
  • Lennon’s computer science background (master’s degree, working towards a doctorate) helped him vanish.
  • Marshals alerted border security and launched an extensive, nationwide hunt.

3. The Years-Long Manhunt (2012–2025)

• The Search Goes Cold

  • For years, there were no significant leads. Investigators believed Lennon's technical skills allowed him to erase his tracks and possibly create false records.
  • More than 100 warrants were executed and interviews conducted across several states—Tennessee, Texas, Nevada.
  • The US Marshals' Regional Fugitive Task Force took over the search.

• Small Leads and Publicity

  • In February 2020, online activity linked to Lennon’s Amazon account was traced to North Carolina.
  • In 2022, attendees at a Dallas anime convention thought they saw Lennon.
  • In July 2025, Lennon was added to the Oklahoma Attorney General’s “10 Most Wanted” list, increasing public awareness.
  • Quote: “Since the program was launched, 15 people accused of crimes like murder, drug trafficking… have been successfully apprehended. Now Anthony Lennon was on that list.” (Katie Ring, 16:01)

4. The Big Break: Identity as Justin Tyler Phillips

• Tracking Lennon to Canton, New York

  • Authorities began surveilling “Justin Tyler Phillips,” a student at SUNY Canton, living off-campus, and working at the Holiday Inn Express.
  • Justin had legitimate-seeming state ID and birth certificate and built a reputation as a model student aiming for MIT or Clarkson University.
  • Quote: “To those who knew Justin, it seemed like he was working hard towards his future. However, U.S. marshals had a different theory about him. They believed he was actually Anthony Lennon.” (Katie Ring, 15:45)

• Surveillance and Arrest (October 30, 2025)

  • Surveillance teams trailed Justin/Anthony as he went about his daily life, careful not to alert him or the small community.
  • Arrest took place at a local grocery store after class.
  • Fingerprint analysis confirmed “Justin Phillips” was in fact Anthony Lennon.

5. Aftermath and Ongoing Legal Proceedings

• Denial and Legal Tactics

  • In custody, Anthony still claims to be Justin Phillips and refuses to admit his identity.
  • His lawyer only refers to him as “the man alleged to be Anthony Lennon.”
  • New York authorities are also investigating possible local crimes, with search warrants for his digital and residential history.

• Charges Awaiting in Oklahoma

  • Pending extradition to Oklahoma to face the eight counts from 2012, plus new federal warrants for failing to register as a sex offender and probation violation.

• Law Enforcement’s Message

  • Quote: “We will not stop. We will not lose focus. And no matter how long it takes or how far you run, we will come for you.” (Moore Police Chief Todd Gibson, via Katie Ring, 20:25)

Memorable Quotes and Moments by Timestamp

• “Which to me is one of the biggest problems in our legal system because what do you mean you’re just letting a child predator back onto the street with no repercussions.”
  Katie Ring — 05:20

• “All of these items seemed carefully placed, like they were left behind intentionally.”
  Katie Ring — 10:51

• “To those who knew Justin, it seemed like he was working hard towards his future. However, U.S. marshals had a different theory about him. They believed he was actually Anthony Lennon.”
  Katie Ring — 15:45

• “Since the program was launched, 15 people accused of crimes like murder, drug trafficking… have been successfully apprehended. Now Anthony Lennon was on that list.”
  Katie Ring — 16:01

• “We will not stop. We will not lose focus. And no matter how long it takes or how far you run, we will come for you.”
  Moore Police Chief Todd Gibson, via Katie Ring — 20:25

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:48] — Introduction to Anthony Lennon’s background and first offenses
• [03:01] — The investigation leads up to the staged kidnapping
• [10:34] — Discovery and analysis of the motel “crime scene”
• [13:00] — The multi-year manhunt and critical investigative leads
• [17:07] — Discovery in New York and lead-up to the arrest
• [20:00] — Aftermath: Denial of identity, charges, and law enforcement’s message

Tone and Language

Katie Ring’s narration throughout the episode is sharp, straightforward, and sometimes critical—especially regarding the criminal justice system’s handling of child predators. There is a clear sense of urgency and moral clarity, particularly around the protection of children and the need for accountability.

Summary

This episode of Crime House Daily delivers a tight, suspenseful account of the search for Anthony Lennon—a technically skilled offender who managed to stage his own disappearance and live under an assumed identity for over a decade. The story explores investigative perseverance and highlights the gaps and eventual strengths in the justice system. With memorable quotes, emotional commentary, and strong narrative pacing, Katie Ring gives listeners both context and closure—while promising to report future updates as the case unfolds.