GRANITE FALLS — A crash-landed plane discovered here Thursday afternoon may have been stolen in Idaho by teenage fugitive Colton Harris-Moore, according Idaho authorities.
Boundary County sheriff’s detective Dave McClelland said investigators will conduct genetic and fingerprint analysis from evidence gathered inside the plane, but the theft bears the imprint of the 18-year-old thief.
“We’re pretty sure, but that’s all,” McClelland said today.
Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies are investigating. The department has no suspects, sheriff’s spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said.
“We’re checking the area to make sure there are no injured people and no suspects, but as I said, we have no evidence that anyone was injured,” she said.
A logger discovered the single engine Cessna Thursday in a clear-cut area southeast of Granite Falls.
Since it crossed state lines, the FBI has been notified, Hover said.
The plane had about four hours of fuel when it was stolen on Tuesday, McClelland said. It may have arrived in Snohomish County between Tuesday and Thursday.
“From what I was told the nose wheel was broken off and (there was) quiet a bit of structural damage, but the guy was able to run away,” McClelland said.
Harris-Moore might have been traveling through Canada in stolen cars before crossing into Idaho on foot, McClelland said.
Harris-Moore is a suspect in dozens of break-ins on Camano Island. Officials believe he has used stolen boats, planes and cars to remain on the run.
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