MANSFIELD – Expert survivalist Hakim Isler shared some insight with Richland Source into what federal fugitive Shawn Christy may be experiencing as he continues to evade capture despite a manhunt encompassing the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service across southern Richland County.
Isler is a former member of the United States Special Operations Forces and was a contestant on the television shows “Naked and Afraid” and “Kicking & Screaming.” He provided thoughts on what Christy might be going through, physically and physiologically.
“Human beings are social creatures. We don’t like to spend time without social interactions,” Isler said. “If he’s not getting a lot of social interactions, he’ll get to the point where he starts rethinking his scenario. His mind will start playing tricks on him.
“That type of individual won’t want to be locked into that scenario very long, but if he’s at home in the woods, then he might be a little tougher to find.”
Christy, 26, of McAdoo Pennsylvania, is still believed to be in Richland County after crashing a white 2002 GMC utility truck north of the Interstate 71, Ohio 13 interchange Sunday evening. Authorities believe he stole the vehicle early Sunday morning in Luzarne County, Pennsylvania — a six-hour drive from Mansfield.
“We still feel that he’s here, which is why we are dedicating so many resources here,” Deputy Anne Murphy of the U.S. Marshals Service said Wednesday morning.
This is based on his history over the past three months. Christy has been on the run since June 20, leading law enforcement on a chase through New York, Canada, West Virginia, Maryland, back into Pennsylvania and then into Ohio on Sunday, where he allegedly fled on foot from the truck.
According to the U.S. Marshals Service, the manhunt will continue until Christy is either in custody or it receives “credible information” that he is out of the area.
Isler believes Christy’s chances of surviving short term depend on the fugitive’s training and comfort level with the outdoors.
Christy calls himself a “outlaw bushcrafter” in a YouTube video, posted May 21. In an earlier video, he says, “I kind of have a lot of survival information, mixed with tactical.” He also discussed having expertise in surviving different environments, including deserts, mountains or urban areas.
This experience will work to Christy’s advantage, Isler said, but with multiple local, state and national law enforcement agencies working to find him, he “can’t just survive freely.”
“If I was (not hiding), I could build a big fire. I could leave tracks everywhere,” Isler said. “You’re able to do what you need to do without worrying about being spotted.”
He predicted that someone could travel a few miles on foot per day, depending on the terrain and the severity of any injuries. Christy posted late last week on his father’s Facebook page about a knee injury.
“But he may not want to do that. Every time he moves, he has to figure out everything again. Where’s my water? I need to make a shelter,” Isler said.
He recalled finding “hide sites” while in the U.S. Special Operations Forces. He’d look for spots deep enough in the wilderness that anyone looking for him might pass by. Proximity to water and other resources was always an important component in choosing a spot.
“I’m going to find a location and say, here’s where I can get some resources, but I’ll stay far enough away from it that if someone thought ‘this would be a great location to find resources,’ they won’t find me,” Isler said.
Still, Isler can’t see Christy staying at one site more than a few days.
“Stay a few days, forge, forge, forge and then move onto another,” he said.
The U.S. Marshals Service has warned the community about Christy’s habits of breaking into houses and businesses and stealing vehicles. People are encouraged to keep their doors locked and to watch for missing survival gear, such as first aid items, food and water.
“You can call any law enforcement,” Murphy said. “We’re responding to all tips.”
The U.S. Marshals Service is asking anyone who notices anything out of the ordinary to call 911 or the U.S. Marshals at 1-866-4-WANTED or text keyword WANTED and the tip to TIP411 (847411).
Local survival expert, Mike Messner of Mansfield believes the time of year and weather could be working to Christy’s advantage.
“He’s probably at an ideal time of year because there’s nothing really dangerous. He’s not going to come across a mountain lion … There’s no big storms coming,” Messner said.
Messner has studied survival skills and taught at a recent weekend-long survival training class in Loudonville.
“In the woods around here, it would be easy to disappear for a while,” he said.
As the weather gets colder, however, he believes it will become increasingly difficult. Further, he noted that technology will make it “extremely difficult” to hide long term.
“It’s amazing that anyone can hide from any of the technology they have anymore. I can’t imagine he’ll last very long,” Messner said.
Isler predicted 50-50 odds when asked about the likelihood of Christy escaping Richland County.
“I don’t know how damaged he is, but if he is driven and motivated to not be captured, he could stay and hide out there indefinitely,” he said, noting that colder weather would indeed bring new challenges.
“As things get colder, it’s harder to stay warm, but it’s not impossible.”
