Overview of the area.

The circle represents the area in the photo above. This shows how rugged this area is.

The active search is shut down for the night, but some officers will remain in place in the woods to maintain a perimeter overnight. 

Press Conference just ended.

Couple of notes.

There have been 150+/- officers in the county with around 50 actively searching the forrest at any time.

Laurel County Sheriff's Office requested that the KSP take over the manhunt and KSP accepted that responsibility this afternoon. Laurel Sheriff's Office is now concentrating on the investigation and KSP the manhunt.

FBI has an evidence/crime scene team there to process evidence. 

FBI has a SWaT team joining in the manhunt.

KSP is pulling additional Troopers from other post and will add resources as needed.

Name on gun form filled out with the purchase of the AR matches the name on the car that was found. That's how they elevated Joesph Couch from person of interest to suspect.

Suspect bought a 1,000 rounds of ammo yesterday and nearly all of it has been recovered. 

 

1 hour ago, Jumper_Dad said:

Overview of the area.

That used to be a big 4-wheeling area years ago. I went down there a couple times about 20 years ago. Those woods had miles of trails. 

6 hours ago, Jumper_Dad said:

Press Conference just ended.

Couple of notes.

There have been 150+/- officers in the county with around 50 actively searching the forrest at any time.

Laurel County Sheriff's Office requested that the KSP take over the manhunt and KSP accepted that responsibility this afternoon. Laurel Sheriff's Office is now concentrating on the investigation and KSP the manhunt.

FBI has an evidence/crime scene team there to process evidence. 

FBI has a SWaT team joining in the manhunt.

KSP is pulling additional Troopers from other post and will add resources as needed.

Name on gun form filled out with the purchase of the AR matches the name on the car that was found. That's how they elevated Joesph Couch from person of interest to suspect.

Suspect bought a 1,000 rounds of ammo yesterday and nearly all of it has been recovered. 

 

 

Manhunt was called off for the night as a precaution to ensure the safety of the LEOs involved in the search.

Here's a list of the the school districts that have announced closures for tomorrow. (Closings include athletic team practices.)

Laurel County
Rockcastle County
East Bernstadt Independent
Clay County
Barbourville Independent
Corbin Independent
Jackson County
Knox County
Whitley County
Lincoln County
Red Bird Christian School
Williamsburg Independent

I have a bad feeling that they really have no idea where he is and that he’s long gone from the area. I hope I’m wrong. 

11 hours ago, nees1212 said:

That used to be a big 4-wheeling area years ago. I went down there a couple times about 20 years ago. Those woods had miles of trails. 

I used to 4 wheel this area. It is extremely rough area. Hopefully they catch him.

2 hours ago, TheDeuce said:

I have a bad feeling that they really have no idea where he is and that he’s long gone from the area. I hope I’m wrong. 

I tend to agree.  If he was still there the dogs would have found him.  At least that is my gut feeling. 

4 minutes ago, theguru said:

I tend to agree.  If he was still there the dogs would have found him.  At least that is my gut feeling. 

To be clear, that is not a knock on law enforcement whatsoever. With the terrain, the interstate, trains, etc that is a daunting task. 

I feel like the longer it goes, the less likely it is that he's still in that area. 

7 minutes ago, TheDeuce said:

To be clear, that is not a knock on law enforcement whatsoever. With the terrain, the interstate, trains, etc that is a daunting task. 

I feel like the longer it goes, the less likely it is that he's still in that area. 

Right, sometimes they get away in the short term. 

6 hours ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

Manhunt was called off for the night as a precaution to ensure the safety of the LEOs involved in the search.

Here's a list of the the school districts that have announced closures for tomorrow. (Closings include athletic team practices.)

Laurel County
Rockcastle County
East Bernstadt Independent
Clay County
Barbourville Independent
Corbin Independent
Jackson County
Knox County
Whitley County
Lincoln County
Red Bird Christian School
Williamsburg Independent

I understand the local schools and maybe Rockcastle canceling. Some of these schools are 45 minutes to an hour drive away (much longer walking through the woods)...seems a bit of an over reaction to me.

Just now, Jumper_Dad said:

I understand the local schools and maybe Rockcastle canceling. Some of these schools are 45 minutes to an hour drive away (much longer walking through the woods)...seems a bit of an over reaction to me.

I agree and thought the same thing.  Go ahead and post a couple of extra officers for security if you feel strong about it but whatever you do, don't stop educating children. 

After clarifying the location of the car, the spot the shots came from in relation to the interstate and the railroad, I think it's very unlikely he was able to cross the interstate and make it a mile through police to the train tracks.