• Salt Lake City: Partly Cloudy 87°
partlycloudy
Deseret News
Home
  • Login/Register
    • Mobile
    • Mobile Site
    • Text Version
    • Mobile Apps
Powered by YAHOO! SEARCH
  • News
  • Sports
  • Moneywise
  • Opinion
  • Faith
  • Family
  • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
    • Cars
    • Jobs
    • Deals
powered by ksl.com
  • Utah
  • World & Nation
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Education
  • More News
    • Salt Lake County
    • Utah County
    • Davis County
    • Police/Courts
    • Legislature
    • Weather
    • Immigration
    • News Wire
Advertise with usReport this ad

Elusive 'Mountain Man' spotted in Sanpete County, police say

  • Print
  • Font [+] [-]
  • 5 Comments »

By Sam Penrod and Pat Reavy, Deseret News

Published: Monday, Oct. 8 2012 5:22 p.m. MDT

  • View 7 photos »

Investigators have discovered surveillance video of a man they say has been burglarizing winter cabins, stealing firearms and supplies, for seven years. New evidence suggests Troy James Knapp, 44, was in Fairview Canyon as recently as a week ago.

, Sanpete County Sheriff

Summary

An elusive fugitive known as the "Mountain Man" has apparently moved north into Sanpete County.

More Coverage
  • Video: Infamous mountain man burglar caught on video, still roams free (KSL)

FAIRVIEW, Sanpete County — An elusive fugitive known as the "Mountain Man" has apparently moved north into Sanpete County.

New evidence suggests Troy James Knapp, 44, was in Fairview Canyon as recently as a week ago. Just last month, based on photographs from hunters in addition to a dozen new cabin burglaries, police believed Knapp had moved into the Seven Mile/UM Creek area near Fish Lake in Sevier County.

Now, for the first time, law enforcers have surveillance video of the man accused of breaking into winter cabins, using up supplies and stealing firearms during the past seven years.

In the new video, Knapp can been seen putting a pair of binoculars to his eyes, apparently looking for an alarm system. Still acting nervous, and with a rifle visible on a sling over his shoulder, Knapp waves his arms, trying to check for a motion sensor, before moving out of frame and allegedly breaking into a cabin near Gooseberry Reservoir.

The Sanpete County Sheriff's Office and the Utah Highway Patrol conducted an intensive search for Knapp a week ago. But like many other prior searches by other law enforcement agencies, they did not find him.

With the elk hunting season under way and soon the deer hunt, authorities fear Knapp will be able to blend in with hunters while carrying his rifle and have an easier time moving around.

In February, law enforcers were finally able to identify Knapp because of fingerprints and a photograph taken by a wildlife camera. An arrest warrant was subsequently issued in Iron County's 6th District Court charging him with aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; two counts of burglary and one count of possession or use of a firearm by a restricted person, third-degree felonies. Knapp is also accused of breaking into a cabin in Duck Creek, Kane County, in 2009, stealing clothing and food.

Investigators believe, however, the survivalist may be responsible for more than two dozen cabin burglaries.

In addition, Knapp is believed to be the one leaving messages for outdoorsmen and law enforcers alike. Next to a wildlife camera that captured photos of Knapp in Sevier County last month, for example, police believe Knapp was the one who wrote the words, "Pack up and leave, get off my mountain," in the dirt. Similar messages have been found near cabins in Kane and Iron counties.

In June, investigators believe a Sevier County resident came face-to-face with Knapp in a remote region of the county. When the resident asked the man what his name was, he simply said, "The Mountain."

Detectives believe Knapp is carrying at least one rifle and one handgun and strongly encourage citizens not to confront him. If possible, Curtis said, the public should take a photo and note the GPS coordinates of his location, and turn that information over to police.

Knapp is 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighs 160 pounds and has blue eyes and red hair typically cut very short. He had a goatee the last time he was spotted, according to law enforcers. Knapp is known to carry a backpack, a rifle over his shoulder, and dresses in camouflage. He has tattoos on his neck, chest, both arms and the back of his left hand.

Anyone with information on Knapp is asked to call their local sheriff's office.

E-mail: preavy@desnews.com, spenrod@ksl.com

Twitter: DNewsCrimeTeam

Related Stories
  • Video: Infamous mountain man burglar caught on video, still roams free (KSL)

Featured Comments

See all 5 comments »
MR
Draper, UT

Living off the land? He is breaking into cabins and stealing their food and supplies. Living off others perhaps.

  • 7:50 a.m. Oct. 9, 2012
  • Top comment
My2Cents
Taylorsville, UT

Living off the land, he is one up on most of us. I know of a few people who are also living this lifestyle now because of the economy and shutting down the US industrial might. And I'm sure the DWR can supply many names to this list where More..

  • 4:48 a.m. Oct. 9, 2012
  • Top comment
Brahmabull
sandy, ut

my2cents - Maybe you missed the story. Your idea of living off of the land is quite backwards if you think living off of the land means stealing supplies from others. You seem to be making light of what this criminal is doing. You aren't one of More..

  • 2:28 p.m. Oct. 9, 2012
  • Top comment
Comments
Leave a comment »

DeseretNews.com encourages a civil dialogue among its readers. We welcome your thoughtful comments.
— About comments

About the Authors
Sam Penrod

Sam Penrod

  • Connect:
Pat Reavy

Pat Reavy

Pat is a veteran police and courts reporter for the Deseret News and KSL and has covered some of the biggest stories in Utah for the past two decades. He is a graduate of Michigan State University with a BA in journalism.

  • Connect:
Advertise with usReport this ad
What You May Have Missed
  • Father figure: Perceptions of God may stem from father-child relationships
  • Superman continues history of casting religious shadows
  • Science and human heart both say dads important to a kid's life
Sample morning edition email
Advertise with usReport this ad
Most Popular
Across Site
In Utah
  • Miss Utah USA's bungled interview creates...
  • Doug Robinson: Utah man's new running shoe...
  • Miss Utah USA gets second chance at question...
  • BYU poll: Majority favor impeachment,...
  • Man charged with attempted murder in Ogden...
  • Ogden man shot as he knelt to pray is...
  • Video: Miss Utah USA flubs answer at Miss USA...
  • 7-year-old girl who met Justin Bieber passes...
  • My husband Alex Boye grilled in UK for 'I'm a...
  • Miss Utah USA's bungled interview creates...
  • Amy Adams, Glenn Beck present different takes...
  • Dick Harmon: Bronco Mendenhall and Cecil O....
  • High school football: Reigning Mr. Football...
  • Doug Robinson: Utah man's new running shoe...
  • LDS Church responds to 'misinformation' about...
  • Miss Utah USA gets second chance at question...
Get The Deseret News Everywhere

Subscribe

Mobile

Facebook

Twitter

RSS

Email

Most Commented
Across Site
In Utah
  • Miss Utah USA's bungled interview... 38
  • BYU poll: Majority favor impeachment,... 27
  • Video: Miss Utah USA flubs answer at... 26
  • Teen's family apologizes to family of... 21
  • 2 others back up extortion claims... 21
  • Attorneys for AG John Swallow say... 20
  • Gunman caught after shooting... 20
  • Doug Robinson: Utah man's new running... 17
  • BYU football: Cougars must secure their... 148
  • My husband Alex Boye grilled in UK for... 60
  • Commentary: Neither the Utes nor Aggies... 54
  • Pew study: News media inserted bias... 51
  • Holding offers from Utah, USU, American... 48
  • Survey: Gay and lesbian population has... 41
  • Amy Adams, Glenn Beck present different... 40
  • BYU football: Mendenhall calls 2012... 39
Advertise with usReport this ad
Advertise with usReport this ad
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Moneywise
  • Opinion
  • Faith
  • Family
  • Obituaries
Home »
  • Blogs
  • Topics
  • Lists
  • Movies
  • Columnists
  • Watch It
News »
  • Utah news
  • World & Nation
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Education
  • Salt Lake County
  • Utah County
  • Davis County
  • Police/Courts
  • Legislature
  • Weather
  • Immigration
  • News Wire
Sports »
  • Utah Jazz
  • Sports Picks
  • BYU Cougars
  • Utah Utes
  • Utah State Aggies
  • Real Salt Lake
  • Salt Lake Bees
  • High school sports
  • Rock
  • Harmon
  • Watch It
  • Scores and Stats
  • On TV
  • NFL
  • MLB
  • Weber State Wildcats
  • Grizzlies
  • Utah Valley Wolverines
  • Southern Utah University
  • Sports Wire
Opinion »
  • Editorials
  • Op-Eds
  • Letters
  • Political Cartoons
Faith »
  • Featured Faiths
  • Mormon Times
  • LDS Church News
  • Mission Reunions
  • Faith Wire
Family »
  • Marriage & Parenting
  • Family Media
  • Movie Guide
  • Calendar
  • TV Listings
  • Family Life Wire
Special Sections »
  • Education Week
  • LDS General Conference
  • Mormons in America
  • Olympics
  • Outdoor Retailer
  • Rugby
  • Sports Picks
  • Sundance Film Festival
  • Utah Blaze
  • Utah Grizzlies
  • Print Subscription
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • FAQ
  • Feedback
  • Jobs
  • RSS
  • E-Edition
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Legal notices
  • Advertise with us
Advertise with usReport this ad