WA IAN ECKLES: Missing from Cle Elum, WA - 16 May 2020 - Age 41 *ARREST*

Search for hunter missing near Cle Elum takes a frightening turn

The mystery behind the disappearance of a hunter last seen near Cle Elum more than a week ago deepened after searchers reported spotting the man's SUV being driven by someone else.

Law enforcement alongside volunteers are looking for Ian Eckles of Kent, who was last seen May 16.

Friends say Eckles, 41, was going to meet friends for a hunting trip in the woods near Cle Ellum, but hasn’t been heard from since.

This missing person’s search took a turn when friends say they saw Eckles' Toyota FJ Cruiser being driven by another man. That unknown man was last seen driving away from law enforcement in Eckles' vehicle.

According to law enforcement, there is now a search for the missing hunter and a man hunt for the person who may have been driving his car.

Friends describe Eckles as a family man and a lifelong hunter who had recently become a grandfather. Dan Linn a friend says Eckles planned to solo camp on May 17 and then meet his hunting party the following morning but he never showed up.

“It’s also not unusual for him to skip the first morning hunt. Sleep in. So they weren’t concerned yet,” Linn said.

When he didn’t come back, friends and family knew something was wrong.

“Monday when he didn’t show up to work. That’s when we all knew something was really bad.”

Kittitas County Sheriff's Office is launching a multi-agency search by air and by land, and is asking the public to stay out of the area.

According to the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office the suspect is believed to be a Hispanic or Native American male, 20s to mid-30s. He’s described as heavy set, with a chubby face, round nose, and short cropped black hair.

Search for hunter missing near Cle Elum takes a frightening turn

Friends say searchers saw an unknown man driving an SUV belonging to Ian Eckles of Kent, who was last seen more than a week ago.

www.king5.com

MEDIA - IAN ECKLES has been missing from Cle Elum, WA since 16 May 2020 - Age 41

 

[GrandmaBear]

There's a lot of places to hide in the Northwest. Lots and lots and lots of foliage and trees. The weather has been good, too. But it's supposed to pour rain today so maybe that will ferret him out.

I am thinking though that he would be getting desperate. Weather, probably no food without shooting it, start a fire and there is smoke, etc. I would worry that he is going to come out or attack a camper or a home or take a hostage in a cabin or home. I don't know the area but he has to be getting desperate? He may have the tent they think he stole but does he have anything else? Even matches to start a fire?

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

I am thinking though that he would be getting desperate. Weather, probably no food without shooting it, start a fire and there is smoke, etc. I would worry that he is going to come out or attack a camper or a home or take a hostage in a cabin or home. I don't know the area but he has to be getting desperate? He may have the tent they think he stole but does he have anything else? Even matches to start a fire?

He wouldn't have needed a fire. It's been warm. Though I'm not sure about his food situation.
Like Kimster said though, the weather is changing today. BIG ol thunderstorm rolling through.

 

[GrandmaBear]

He wouldn't have needed a fire. It's been warm. Though I'm not sure about his food situation.
Like Kimster said though, the weather is changing today. BIG ol thunderstorm rolling through.

Yeah, I was thinking to cook a fish or a rabbit with the fire And yes, rain and trying to dry things out from clothing to fires. And not sure about the weather in Washington but we still get some cool nights without being in the deep woods and even inside. Does he even have blankets? We know there may be a tent. I would just think even the most nasty hardened criminal would be getting a bit desperate by now not just for a major comfort but a standard one... Lights? Flashlight?

Just hoping it drives him out to give up but does not drive him to murder someone else, break in nor take a hostage. If he has not killed himself...

 

[Guess Who]

Yeah, I was thinking to cook a fish or a rabbit with the fire And yes, rain and trying to dry things out from clothing to fires. And not sure about the weather in Washington but we still get some cool nights without being in the deep woods and even inside. Does he even have blankets? We know there may be a tent. I would just think even the most nasty hardened criminal would be getting a bit desperate by now not just for a major comfort but a standard one... Lights? Flashlight?

Just hoping it drives him out to give up but does not drive him to murder someone else, break in nor take a hostage. If he has not killed himself...

probably vacation rentals/cabins/abandoned structures. Hopefully he's somewhere where he is the only one there.

 

[Kimster]

He wouldn't have needed a fire. It's been warm. Though I'm not sure about his food situation.
Like Kimster said though, the weather is changing today. BIG ol thunderstorm rolling through.

Those thunderstorms woke me up this morning! We don't usually get them like that in this area.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Those thunderstorms woke me up this morning! We don't usually get them like that in this area.

Same! I had my windows open because it was so hot yesterday. Rudely awakened by a shaking boom early this morning. My cat was not too pleased either.

not sure about the weather in Washington but we still get some cool nights without being in the deep woods and even inside. Does he even have blankets? We know there may be a tent. I would just think even the most nasty hardened criminal would be getting a bit desperate by now not just for a major comfort but a standard one... Lights? Flashlight?

Normally this time of year it can be pretty cold at night still but these last few days have been hot and haven't cooled off drastically.
He may have been able to steal some food from the abandoned campsite along with the tent but yeah...food, and now this weather, may be what forces him out. Unless he's already killed himself or otherwise dead, like you said.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Manhunt on Blewett Pass in its 10th day as authorities remain convinced murder suspect is still in the area

The search for a murder suspect in the Mineral Springs area of Blewett Pass entered its 10th day today, with authorities convinced 34-year-old Jorge Alcantara-Gonzalez is still in the area.

www.ncwlife.com

Manhunt on Blewett Pass in its 10th day as authorities remain convinced murder suspect is still in the area

The search for a murder suspect in the Mineral Springs area of Blewett Pass entered its 10th day today, with authorities convinced 34-year-old Jorge Alcantara-Gonzalez is still in the area.

Searchers “have ongoing evidence” Alcantara-Gonzalez remains on foot in an area of the forest he knows well, said Chris Whitsett, investigator with the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office.


As many as 100 searchers at a time have been combing the area said Jill Beedle, public information officer for the sheriff’s office.

But typically, there are about 30 searchers working at one time, she said. They include FBI, Border Patrol and ICE officers.

Searchers have used a helicopter, drones, K9s and officers on foot or riding off-road vehicles, Beedle said.

“We have reason to believe from our investigation of Alcantra-Gonzalez that he has spent considerable time in these woods before, Whitsett said. “And the way that he is operating in these woods now shows that he’s intimately familiar with them.”


There is a simultaneous effort under way to find Eckles’ body.

“Right now we are actively searching for Mr. Eckles as well as conducting the manhunt. But the fact that there’s this armed fugitive in the area does put some constraints on that search,” Whitsett said. “There are lots of people who would want to be out there lots of civilian volunteers, family and friends of Mr. Eckles and some other resources that we can’t have in that area.”

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Part of Teanaway forest closed to aid manhunt for suspect in missing hunter case

Portions of Teanaway Community Forest closed this week to aid law enforcement who are searching for a suspect in the disappearance of Ian Eckles.

www.king5.com

Part of Teanaway forest closed to aid manhunt for suspect in missing hunter case

The Department of Natural Resources temporarily closed parts of Teanaway Community Forest on Wednesday as law enforcement continue a manhunt for a suspect in a missing hunter case.

Officials closed a portion of the forest to limit the amount of contact Alcantara-Gonzalez has with the public and reduce the public’s risk of being harmed by the fugitive, according to DNR. Alcantara-Gonzalez is believed to be armed and dangerous.

Land closures extended for manhunt

The land closures associated with the ongoing manhunt for Jorge Alcantara-Gonzalez have been expanded, according to a news release from Kittitas County. This announcement was as of Friday afternoon.

www.dailyrecordnews.com

Land closures extended for manhunt


The coordinated closure includes all Forest Service lands west of state Route 97 to the edge of the Teanaway Community Forest (in red on the attached map), and the portion of the Teanaway Community Forest on the east side of Teanaway Road and North Fork Teanaway Road (in black on the attached map). North Fork Teanaway Road is also closed near Milepost 9, eliminating access to recreational lands and facilities north of that point, including 29 Pines Campground.

Additional closures on the east side of state Route 97 include the Liberty Campground off Liberty road and Swauk Campground off state Route 97. The emergency closure order extends until June 15 unless modified or rescinded. Please review the closure map before making any plans in the area.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Massive manhunt continues in Kittitas County; missing hunter presumed dead

Missing hunter Ian Eckles's friends and loved ones say it's not just about the manhunt for the suspect. They want to know where Ian is, what happened to him, and

www.nbcrightnow.com

Massive manhunt continues in Kittitas County; missing hunter presumed dead

A manhunt continues for a suspect linked to the death of a missing hunter near Cle Elum.

"On the morning of the 23rd and we hunted non-stop through that weekend. This is definitely the biggest man hunt in the history of our county," Whitsett said.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Massive manhunt continues in Kittitas County; missing hunter presumed dead

Missing hunter Ian Eckles's friends and loved ones say it's not just about the manhunt for the suspect. They want to know where Ian is, what happened to him, and

www.nbcrightnow.com

Massive manhunt continues in Kittitas County; missing hunter presumed dead

A manhunt continues for a suspect linked to the death of a missing hunter near Cle Elum.

"On the morning of the 23rd and we hunted non-stop through that weekend. This is definitely the biggest man hunt in the history of our county," Whitsett said.

Wow, still at large. And no sign of presumed dead man either? I am not saying they should have or could have found either in such an area, just remarking on how scary it is he is still on the loose. Would they know if the perp killed himself?

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Marshals Service now involved in hunt for Blewett Pass murder suspect

As the manhunt for a murder suspect in Blewett Pass approaches its third week, the U.S. Marshal’s Service has joined the search. That agency, known for its ability to chase

www.ncwlife.com

Marshals Service now involved in hunt for Blewett Pass murder suspect

As the manhunt for a murder suspect in Blewett Pass approaches its third week, the U.S. Marshal’s Service has joined the search.

That agency, known for its ability to chase down suspects, will be focusing on the possibility the suspect has left the area.



The sheriff’s office said the suspect has burglarized multiple homes and cabins in the area.

Though they still believe Alcantara-Gonzalez is in the area, the sheriff’s office said they enlisted the help of the U.S. Marshals in the event he is no longer in the forest.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Fugitive arrested in Central Washington for murder of Kent man | Seattle Weekly

Ian Eckles, 41, went missing in May

www.seattleweekly.com

Fugitive arrested in Central Washington for murder of Kent man

After a 23-day manhunt in Central Washington, Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office deputies on Sunday arrested a man on a warrant for the murder of a 41-year-old Kent man.

Deputies arrested Jorge Alcantara-Gonzalez on Sunday afternoon in the Teanaway area after a local resident was walking in his neighborhood when he saw someone inside the house of a neighbor that looked like the suspect and called 911. Deputies from the Sheriff’s Office and officers from the US Forest Service and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife surrounded the home and called Alcantara out. He complied with their orders and warnings and was taken into custody without incident, according to a Facebook post by the Sheriff’s Office.

The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office thanked the alert resident who called in his observations and the many other people who have called with information and assistance in this investigation.

“The arrest of Jorge Alcantara concludes an uncertain and dangerous time for our county, especially for residents of the affected area,” Sheriff Clay Myers said. “We are deeply grateful for the assistance of the residents of the Liberty and Teanaway areas, who have been constantly supportive throughout this time. We can now turn our attention to the successful prosecution of the crimes this suspect has committed and, most urgently, to finding and recovering the body of Ian Eckles and giving his family peace.”

 

[GrandmaBear]

Fugitive arrested in Central Washington for murder of Kent man | Seattle Weekly

Ian Eckles, 41, went missing in May

www.seattleweekly.com

Fugitive arrested in Central Washington for murder of Kent man

After a 23-day manhunt in Central Washington, Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office deputies on Sunday arrested a man on a warrant for the murder of a 41-year-old Kent man.

Deputies arrested Jorge Alcantara-Gonzalez on Sunday afternoon in the Teanaway area after a local resident was walking in his neighborhood when he saw someone inside the house of a neighbor that looked like the suspect and called 911. Deputies from the Sheriff’s Office and officers from the US Forest Service and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife surrounded the home and called Alcantara out. He complied with their orders and warnings and was taken into custody without incident, according to a Facebook post by the Sheriff’s Office.

The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office thanked the alert resident who called in his observations and the many other people who have called with information and assistance in this investigation.

“The arrest of Jorge Alcantara concludes an uncertain and dangerous time for our county, especially for residents of the affected area,” Sheriff Clay Myers said. “We are deeply grateful for the assistance of the residents of the Liberty and Teanaway areas, who have been constantly supportive throughout this time. We can now turn our attention to the successful prosecution of the crimes this suspect has committed and, most urgently, to finding and recovering the body of Ian Eckles and giving his family peace.”

Thank goodness! I can't even imagine being the person who saw him or anyone fearing he was in their vicinity. I am somewhat surprised he gave up peacefully or without incident. I hope they find the victim for the family's sake.

 

[Kimster]

Thank goodness! I can't even imagine being the person who saw him or anyone fearing he was in their vicinity. I am somewhat surprised he gave up peacefully or without incident. I hope they find the victim for the family's sake.

Me too. Maybe the suspect will give up the location.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Bail set at $3M for murder suspect involved in 23-day manhunt in Kittitas County

KITTITAS COUNTY - The subject of a 23-day manhunt in Kittitas County is being held in jail on $3 million bail, accused of murdering missing Kent resident Ian Eckles, among

www.ifiberone.com

Bail set at $3M for murder suspect involved in 23-day manhunt in Kittitas County

The subject of a 23-day manhunt in Kittitas County is being held in jail on $3 million bail, accused of murdering missing Kent resident Ian Eckles, among more than 20 other charges.

Jorge Alcantara-Gonzalez, 34, is facing 23 charges in Kittitas County Superior Court, including second-degree murder and multiple counts of possession of a stolen vehicle, theft of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, burglary, theft, possession of another person’s identification, altering firearm identification marks and identity theft, according to court records.



Inside Eckles’ SUV, investigators reportedly found a wallet containing Alcantara-Gonzalez’s driver’s license, as well as Eckels’ wallet, which included his driver’s license and credit and debit cards. Investigators reported a number of blood stains in Eckles’ vehicle, including blood spatter on the inside of the roof.

Bullet defects were also found inside and outside the vehicle.

“Further searching of this area appears that the bullet defect was at an angle going toward the rear of the vehicle suggesting that someone from inside the vehicle shot in a direction going out the rear of the vehicle but the bullet struck the roof of the headliner,” investigators wrote. “A second bullet defect was found going the opposite direction and suggests that it was fired from outside the vehicle going into the rear of the vehicle and possibly shattering the glass of the rear window. The broken glass was found throughout the vehicle.”



Law enforcement continues to search for Eckles’ body. Investigators say based on the blood, ballistic and forensic evidence recovered from Eckles’ SUV, “it is likely that Eckles is deceased and was the victim of foul play,” with Alcantara-Gonzalez responsible, according to court records.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

How a search for a lost hunter from Kent turned into a 23-day manhunt for a presumed killer

Jorge Alcantara Gonzalez, 34, was arrested in a small community in rural Kittitas County on June 14, ending a 23-day manhunt. Alcantara has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of Ian Eckles of Kent, whose body...

www.seattletimes.com

Ian Eckles was supposed to meet a buddy in May to go turkey hunting north of Liberty, a tiny community in unincorporated Kittitas County.

Eckles, 41, never met up with his friend, and the following Monday he didn’t show up for his job as a warehouse manager in Kent. Six days later, what Kittitas County Sheriff’s deputies initially thought was a search for a lost hunter morphed into a 23-day manhunt for a presumed killer, deep within the southern woodlands of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

“We just want to bring him home so we can have closure and evidence and proof of what happened so (investigators) can put the pieces together,” said his sister, Stefanie Eckles, 39.



“I can’t believe he’s gone,” Nathan Eckles, 43, said of his brother, an avid hunter and fisherman who treated the woods like a sanctuary.

Ian Eckles, who would have turned 42 on June 2, was passionate about music, loved the NFL New England Patriots, rode Triumph motorcycles on annual road trips with his dad and brother, and was a talented handyman who could build just about anything out of wood or stone, his family said.

He was proud of his daughter, Audrie Elkins, for her four years of service in the Army and joyfully welcomed his first grandchild, Noah, who was born in early 2019, they said. When Eckles’ workplace was shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, he made two trips to Colorado to visit them.

“I’m thankful he was able to have that time with his grandson and daughter. Family meant everything to him,” Nathan Eckles said.

He’s also angry, left to question why someone would have taken his brother’s life.

“I want to see justice served,” Nathan Eckles said, “for every single life this person has touched or hurt or devastated.”


MUCH MORE AT LINK
Ian and his brother

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Searchers have been unable to find the body of Kent man killed off Blewett Pass

Despite a wide-ranging search, the body of a Kent man allegedly killed by the subject of a three-week manhunt off Blewett Pass still has not been found. Chris Whitsett, investigator

www.ncwlife.com

Searchers have been unable to find the body of Kent man killed off Blewett Pass

Despite a wide-ranging search, the body of a Kent man allegedly killed by the subject of a three-week manhunt off Blewett Pass still has not been found.

Chris Whitsett, investigator with the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office, said Monday that as soon as murder suspect Jorge Alcantara-Gonzalez was captured June 14, an extensive search was launched for the body of Ian Eckles, 41.

“We conducted a weeklong search with over 100 volunteers from six different county search and rescue operations,” Whitsett said. “We did find evidence in the case but not Mr. Eckles.”

Though the search now involves more “intelligence gathering” than on-ground searching, officials continue to look for Eckles, Whitsett said.

In addition, Eckles’ family and friends are still searching for him in private groups, he said.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Hunters asked to watch for signs of missing man off Blewett Pass

Hunters and others going into the forest off Blewett Pass are being asked to report anything they see that might help in the search for the body of Ian Eckles.

www.ncwlife.com

Hunters asked to watch for signs of missing man off Blewett Pass

Hunters and others going into the forest off Blewett Pass are being asked to report anything they see that might help in the search for the body of Ian Eckles.

Eckles, 41, is believed to have been murdered last May in the Mineral Springs area.

The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office is asking forest users to report abandoned tents, campsites, firearms, mountain bikes, fishing gear and anything else that looks out of place.

 

[kdg411]

Suspect pleads guilty to theft, burglary charges; KCSO still searching for victim's body

KITTITAS COUNTY-- The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone hunting or recreating in the areas around Kittitas County to be on the lookout for evidence that could help locate41-year-old Ian Eckles' remains. Recreating areas include Mineral Springs, the Teanaway, Blewett Pass, or...

kimatv.com

 

[Kimster]

Is this the same area that Cody Haynes' dad was driving around in the night Cody went missing?