Murder victims in Idaho white supremacist prison break ID’d as men aged 83 and 72
The homicide victims linked to an Idaho prison escape have been identified as two men aged 83 and 72, according to the Nez Pearce County Coroner’s Office and Clearwater County Coroner’s Office.
The body of James L Mauney, 83, was found outside of Leland, Idaho. He’s from the Juliaetta area, officials said in a news release. The fugitives, Skylar Meade, 31 and Nicholas Umphenour, encountered the man as he was walking his dogs. Mr Mauney and his dogs were taken and driven eastbound in a 2019 silver Chrysler Pacifica.
Police found the man’s body close to a separate abandoned vehicle connected to the crime. Detectives said they don’t believe that the man knew the suspects.
An autopsy for Mr Mauney is scheduled for next week. Dennis Fuller, the coroner for Clearwater County said Gerald “Don” Henderson, 72, died from an apparent gunshot wound but that his manner of death was still pending an autopsy. His body was found at his residence outside Orofino.
Mr Mauney’s dogs were also at the man’s home in addition to a pair of shackles, which police suspect were left by Meade. It’s thought that Mr Henderson knew the suspects but officials do not know the specifics of their relationships. Mr Mauney’s dogs were later returned to his family members unharmed.
On Thursday, officials with the Boise, Idaho Police Department said they’d captured Meade and Umphenour after Meade busted out of prison while at Saint Alphonsus hospital in Boise for treatment around 2.15am on Wednesday.
As officers were getting ready to transport the man back to a correctional facility, Umphenour attacked the correctional officers, firing shots and striking two of them. The men were at large for just over 24 hours before they were captured. In total, three officers were shot in the incident.
Meade has been incarcerated since 2016 October. His most recent sentence is slated to end in 2036 October. He was serving time for aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a firearm enhancement and has prior convictions, including felony possession of a controlled substance, grand theft and introduction of contraband into a correctional facility.
The inmate was convicted after shooting at a Twin Falls sheriff’s sergeant during a high-speed car chase. He had been fleeing a traffic stop.
This week, as the men fled Mr Henderson’s home, law enforcement secured the area around the residence. Meade and Umphenour left in different cars.
The inmate was stopped and arrested nearby, while Umphenour attempted to flee but was chased and apprehended. Both were captured without further incident and no gunshots were fired.
