Frein captured, charged with murder of state trooper
By Nathan Mayberg
MILFORD — Eric Frein, formerly one of the 10 most wanted men in the country, was ordered held in Pike County Jail without bail on Friday morning following his arrest Thursday night by the U.S. Marshalls.
Frein appeared in front of Pike County District Court Magisterial Judge Shannon Muir on Friday morning on charges he killed state police Corporal Bryon Dickson and shot trooper Alex Douglass outside the Blooming Grove State Police barracks on Sept. 12.
Frein was caught unarmed by the U.S. Marshalls near an abandoned airport hangar at the former Birchwood Resort outside Price Township and was arrested quietly, according to police.
Frein has not been appointed legal representation yet, according to Muir's Office. He can apply for representation from the public defender's office.
Frein has not yet entered a plea to the charges.
Pike County District Attorney Raymond Tonkin charged Frein with first degree murder, first degree attempted murder, criminal attempt to commit homicide of a law enforcement officer, assault of a law enforcement officer, discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, reckless endangerment, criminal possession of weapons used in a crime and possession of a weapon of mass destruction.
Frein is accused of ambushing and killing Dickson after the trooper left work at about 10:50 p.m. on Sept. 12 at the Blooming Grove state police barracks. He then allegedly shot Douglass in the pelvis when he came to his aid. Frein is also accused of shooting at trooper Nicole Palmer who had also attended to Dickson and tried to rescue him.
No motive for the shootings has been presented thus far, and it is not yet clear if Frein has made statements to law enforcement since his arrest.
Tonkin could not be immediately reached for comment.
The shooting resulted in a nearly seven week manhunt for Frein, which stretched from Blooming Grove to Canadensis and Price Township and beyond. The search raised tensions particularly in the Canadensis, Price and Barrett towns where travel by residents was restricted at times and homeowners were blocked from entering their residences. The constant hum of helicopters became a part of life.
Law enforcement from the FBI, ATF, US Marshalls, State Police, Sherriff's Department and local police all engaged in the search.
Police received an early break in the case when Frein's vehicle was found in a submerged pond not too far from the barracks with identifying information about him. Police tracked his cell phone to Price Township soon after, and remained camped there until Frein was ultimately found.
Police found two bombs in the woods that were allegedly left by Frein. They also found an AK-47 which had been reported missing from his family's home in Canadensis, as well as diapers he was believed to be using.
Photos of Frein after his capture showed a fresh cut on his nose described by state police as a scratch which was already there before his arrest.
He is scheduled to return to Pike County Court on Nov. 12 for a preliminary hearing.
Pennsylvania State Troopers Association President Joseph Kovel issued a statement following the capture of Frein, stating “If you attack troopers, and a civilized society, the Pennsylvania State Police will bring you to justice. Eric Frein is a coward. Cpl. Bryon K. Dickson II and Trooper Alex T. Douglass are true heroes. We will continue to pray for Corporal Dickson and Trooper Douglass and support their loved ones.”