Escaped inmate suspected in murders
Published Date: 3/23/2024
Source: 4 News Now
TWIN FALLS, Idaho -- Idaho State Police (ISP) confirmed Friday morning that 83-year-old James Mauney, who was reported as missing this week, was one of two people suspected of being killed by escaped inmate Skylar Meade and his accomplice, Nicholas Umphenour. Police said Meade and Umphenour stole a Honda Civic in Boise and drove north through Idaho. Detectives believe they ran into Mauney on March 20; Mauney regularly walked his dogs near the river where Latah County and Nez Perce County border. Police said Mauney and his dogs were taken and driven east in Mauney's Chrysler Pacifica. Detectives found the Civic abandoned near Leland, and Mauney's body was found nearby. On March 20, Clearwater County deputies and ISP found 72-year-old Gerald "Don" Henderson dead inside his home near Orofino. They also found Mauney's dogs and a pair of shackles that were believed to be left by Meade there. Investigators suspected Henderson might've known Meade and Umphenour; they didn't believe Mauney had ever met the pair before. The dogs were returned to Mauney's family unharmed. ISP said on March 21, law enforcement found the Pacifica at a home in Filer, Idaho, and that Meade and Umphenour went through Missoula, Montana to get there. As law enforcement put together a perimeter around the house, the pair left in separate vehicles. Law enforcement stopped both of them nearby; Umphenour tried to get away, but police said he was taken into custody after a chase. No gunshots were fired. A 52-year-old woman from Filer was arrested for helping Meade get away from the house. She was booked into jail in Twin Falls. The Clearwater and Nez Perce County Coroners were investigating the causes and manners of death for Mauney and Henderson. ►Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/4NewsNow ►Website: http://www.kxly.com ►Twitter: https://twitter.com/kxly4news ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KXLY4News