Posts Tagged ‘billboards’

FBI: Digital Billboards Launched, East Coast Rapist Wanted

Monday, February 28th, 2011

EAST 

east coast rapst

The FBI is launching a new digital campaign and website today to help generate leads on a suspect named the “East Coast Rapist.”  Agents say the suspect is a serial offender who has attacked women up and down the east coast over the last 15 years; the attacks are linked through DNA.  Digital billboard with information will now appearing in Delaware, New York, Rhode Island, Maryland, Connecticut, Virginia and New Jersey. 

Authorities say the first attacked occurred in February 1997 when a suspect approached a 25-year-old woman as she walked home.  The man allegedly pulled out a gun and forced the victim into a nearby wooded area where he raped her.  The FBI says since then, 17 other attacks total or attempted attacks have occurred.

The victims have been black, white and Hispanic and are usually approached outside as they walk.  The suspect is described as black male who often wears a black mask or hooded sweatshirt.  In some cases, he has been known to ask for money, but the FBI does not think that is his motive because usually after the assaults, no money has ever been taken. 

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BILLBOARD CAMPAIGN TO FIND “GRANDDAD BANDIT” (update)

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

WANTED

FBI May 2010 Missouri photo

FBI May 2010 Missouri photo

UPDATE: On August 11, 2010, investigators closed in on the man believed to be the suspect.  He is identified as 53-year-old Michael Mara and was taken into custody in Baton Rouge.

The FBI is kicking off a campaign to nab a man dubbed the “Granddad Bandit.”  Agents say his crime wave spills across 13 states, and he’s suspected in up to 25 robberies.  The suspect is bold, visible, and not afraid to demand what he wants.  This is why his face will be plastered on 2,000 billboards across every state in America.  He’s been on the run for 19 months since his first hit on December 19, 2008 at a SunTrust Bank in Richmond, Virginia.  When he made his getaway, it was believed he just blended into the crowd.

The FBI says the suspect usually hands tellers a note demanding money and threatening to have a weapon.  He may be traveling in a silver sports utility vehicle. The suspect may be between 50 and 60 years old, weighs about 230 pounds and may be 6 feet tall. 

A $25,000 reward is offered for any information leading to his arrest.

 Meanwhile, for the last 11 months the FBI has been hunting in Southern California for another suspect dubbed the “Geezer Bandit.”  He appears to be an elderly man robbing banks.  Most of the hits have been in San Diego County, and one in Riverside County.  His latest heist was at a Bank of America in Temecula, California.  If you take a close look at the photos, the suspect looks like someone’s grandpa, but the FBI says this grandpa is a gun-wielding bandit.  He is known to carry a small caliber pistol inside a leather case, and has threatened tellers that he will use it if they don’t cough up the cash.  Once he gets what he wants, the suspect walks out of the bank.

Brand new video of Thanksgiving murder suspect

Thursday, December 24th, 2009
Paul Merhige wanted

Paul Merhige wanted

It’s been four weeks today since the deadly Thanksgiving shooting that took the lives of four family members in Jupiter, FL.  It would be quite a blessing to find Paul Merhige, the man allegedly responsible for the shootings, and to bring him to justice for Christmas.  Merhige is charged with four counts of first degree murder.  Yesterday, investigators released brand new video of Merhige in high school, and for the first time, we can hear his voice.  I watched the entire interview, and it’s hard to believe this young, articulate, aspiring football player is the man police believe is responsible for killing his own family members.  I spoke with Sgt. Scott Pascarella last week, and he says investigators from his region, including the United States Marshals and the FBI are all on board to tracking Merhige.  They’ve received well over 180 tips, and 90% of those leads are exhausted.  Authorities even searched the pond behind the house where the shooting took place three times looking for evidence. “We don’t want the fire to burn out,” Sgt. Pascarella told me.  He also says Merhige is traveling with four weapons, two handguns and a .308 Remington Rifle, and one other unknown gun.  The weapons have been located, and neither has the 2007 Blue Toyota Camry Merhige was last seen driving.  Merhige does posses a concealed weapons permit, and investigators know the handguns were purchased weeks before the shooting, and the rifle was bought the day before.  Just recently, throughout Miami, investigators canvassed new posters in Spanish and Creole throughout to the public.  Sgt. Pascarella says, “We were surprised just how many people didn’t know about this case.”  It’s going to take leg work like this to keep getting the word out.  Right now, there are digital billboards in place as far north as Atlanta, Georgia, and throughout many main cities in Florida.  Sgt. Pascarellea says a new billboard company just contacted them this week to offer some space on their billboards in other area. 

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