A Florida man wanted for killing two people is now in jail. Deputies say Joseph "Joey" Ronnie Raker was caught in Mexico. He was found just south of Brownsville, Texas. That is on the border. The arrest came after more than a week on the run.

The Wakulla County Sheriff's Office says the manhunt is over. Sheriff Jared Miller called it "a very intensive manhunt" that used help from local, state, and federal police.

This case matters far past Florida. Raker was caught near the South Texas border. That is close to home for many Rio Grande Valley families. Local police, U.S. Marshals, and Mexican police all worked together. They caught a wanted man even after he crossed state and country lines.

Raker faces two counts of homicide. That means he is charged with killing two people. Deputies say he killed Rebecca Thomas, 58, and John Luper III, 49. Both were shot to death. It happened in Wakulla County, near the small town of Sopchoppy.

The case started on Aug. 2. Someone called police about a shooting on Otter Creek Road. Deputies went to check. They found signs of a fight. They did not find any bodies yet.

A fire broke out on that same property the next day. Raker went to the hospital. He had breathed in smoke. Deputies talked to him there. At that time, they did not have enough proof to arrest him. So they let him go.

Search teams later found John Luper's body. It was hidden in thick brush at the St. Marks Refuge. They found Rebecca Thomas about 100 yards away. She was also covered with brush and debris.

On Aug. 6, deputies got arrest warrants for Raker. The sheriff's office offered a $10,000 reward. That money was for any tips that could help catch him.

The sheriff's office says U.S. Marshals and Mexican police helped track Raker down. They found him just south of Brownsville. U.S. Marshals took him into custody.

"He can no longer hide from us or evade the justice system," Sheriff Miller said.

Deputies are still waiting on more details. They want to know how Raker traveled more than 1,000 miles to the border. Public Information Officer Brett Surace said the sheriff's office wants a full report. They want to know "who was with him at the time" and what help he had along the way.

Raker will be sent back to Wakulla County. He will face the charges there. Sheriff Miller said the case is not closed. He thinks more arrests are coming.

"Anyone who helped commit these crimes... we will find you," Sheriff Miller said.

Some people in the community had criticized how deputies first handled the case. That was when Raker was questioned and let go after the fire. Miller answered those critics too. He said deputies "did a very good job" but admitted they "could have done things better."

For now, Raker sits in jail. His trip back to Florida is still being worked out. The sheriff's office says the case stays open. Deputies want to learn if anyone helped Raker hide, travel, or cross into Mexico.

This case is a lesson for border towns like the Rio Grande Valley. Wanted people sometimes try to use the border to disappear. This arrest shows that teamwork between U.S. and Mexican police can stop that fast. It worked even though the suspect ran over a thousand miles from the crime.

Cases like this happen more than people think. A suspect runs from a small town far away. He tries to slip across the border near Brownsville or another South Texas crossing. Local families here know that stretch of border well. They see the checkpoints. They see the bridges. They know it is not an easy place to just walk away and hide.

That is why the teamwork in this case stands out. Wakulla County deputies could not have made this arrest alone. They needed the U.S. Marshals to work the trail across state lines. They needed Mexican police to help find Raker once he crossed over. Without that partnership, Raker might still be free today.

The sheriff's office has not said if Raker has a lawyer yet. It also has not said exactly when he will arrive back in Florida. Extradition can take time. It depends on paperwork between the two countries. Deputies say they will share updates as the process moves along.

Neighbors near Otter Creek Road are still shaken by what happened. Two people lost their lives on a quiet road outside a small town. The arrest brings some relief, but the investigation is not finished. Deputies still want answers about who else may have been involved.