BOISE, Idaho — The two men at the center of a high-profile prison escape in Boise, a statewide manhunt, and two North Idaho homicide investigations were arraigned in Twin Falls County Friday along with a third accomplice who police say helped the fugitives elude officers.
A judge set bail for Meade and Umphenour at $2 million. Both men have been transported to the Ada County Jail.
Meade is charged with a felony for escaping state custody, Umphenour is charged with five felonies: 3 counts of aggravated battery on certain law enforcement personnel, one count of use of a firearm in the commission of a crime, and one count of aiding and abetting an escape.
A third accomplice, Tonia Huber, is facing three felony charges. Officials say she was driving 100 miles per hour through Twin Falls neighborhoods in an attempt to elude officers and help the fugitives escape. All three were taken into custody in Twin Falls after a pursuit Thursday afternoon.
Idaho State Police have now confirmed they believe the deaths of Gerald "Don" Henderson (72) and James L. Mauney (83) in North Idaho are linked to Meade and Umphenour.
ISP released a timeline Friday that details the fugitives' whereabouts from their escape through their arrest.
According to ISP, the two men fled Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise around 2:00 a.m. on Wednesday in a stolen Honda Civic and went north.
Police believe the men encountered James Mauney while walking with his two dogs in Nez Perce County and took the man, his animals, and his 2019 Chrysler Pacifica, and headed eastbound.
Later that day, officials found Mauney's body in Leland, Idaho, near the abandoned Honda Civic.
Also on Wednesday, ISP worked with the Clearwater County Sheriff's Office to investigate the homicide of Gerald Henderson at his residence in Orofino. Police say Mauney's dogs and a pair of shackles, which police believe to have been left by Skylar Meade, were found at the scene.
Detectives believe the stolen Chrysler was driven through Missoula, Montana while the pair made their way south to Filer where police closed in on their location and the stolen car on Thursday.
As law enforcement secured the area around the residence, they say Meade and Umphenour took off in different vehicles.
Meade was stopped and arrested nearby, while Umphenour attempted to flee but was pursued and ultimately apprehended in Twin Falls. Both were captured without further incident, and no gunshots were fired.
Yesterday, two fugitives were arrested in Twin Falls County concerning the escape for the IDOC that occurred on March 20th. Escapee, Skylar Meade, was pursued by the TFPD and partners. He was taken into custody at Washington N. and Pole Line Rd. in Twin Falls at 2:09 p.m. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/Jsfu7oGhby
— Twin Falls Police (@TwinFallsPD) March 22, 2024
All of this is still under investigation, any tips related to this case should be reported to ISP at 1-833-610-1026. We will continue to update as new information is released.
