Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Three-year fugitive captured after calling 911 to say he'd been bitten by a rattlesnake

Medics found no evidence of snake bite

Matt Mathers
Tuesday 13 October 2020 14:35 EDT
Comments
Fugitive reportedly went on run after getting permission to attend a funeral
Fugitive reportedly went on run after getting permission to attend a funeral (Baker County Sheriff’s Office)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

An Idaho fugitive who spent three years on the run was eventually caught by law enforcement after calling 911 claiming he had been bitten by a rattlesnake, police said.

Ryan Paul Henry, 33, was put through to Oregon Baker County Sheriff’s Office last Thursday after telling emergency services he was on foot and lost in Hells Canyon, on Oregon’s eastern border.

Henry at first gave the call handler a false name. But after learning his real identity, the sheriff's office discovered that he was on a three year felony warrant out of Idaho.

The sheriff's office had originally planned for a search and rescue team to assist Henry, but the operation was called off after officials learned of his criminaly history.

Baker County Sheriff’s Office then dispatched six deputies and members of the US Forest Service to locate Henry.

Shortly after 10pm on 8 October, Henry was located in Hewitt Park in the Richland area, the sheriff’s office said in a statement

He was then taken to Baker County jail where and assessed by medical staff who found no evidence of a snake bite.

It was unclear what Henry was doing in the Hells Canyon area or why he was in Oregon, some 367 miles away from where he first went on the run.

Local media reported that Henry has evading authorities since 2017, after he was granted permission to attend a funeral.

He was being held in a Payette County jail on drugs charges, according to reports.

Henry will likely face further charges having been on the run for three years.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in