A murder suspect who escaped from a correctional facility in Idaho has been caught after a 24-hour manhunt, officials confirmed.
Kevin Nicholas Kuintzle, 33, who was on the run, was arrested without any trouble in Pocatello, Idaho, on Friday evening. This update came from the Idaho Department of Correction around 9:15 p.m. local time.
Kuintzle had been staying at the St. Anthony Work Camp, a minimum-security facility in Fremont County. He was last seen there on Thursday night at about 8 p.m., according to the department.
UPDATE: Kuintzle was last seen in Idaho Falls around noon today. He was wearing khaki pants, black coat, and white sneakers.
— Idaho Department of Correction (@IDOCalert) December 6, 2024
He should be considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached. Anyone with information should call 911. pic.twitter.com/LSG4vWotW5
After escaping, Kuintzle was later spotted in Idaho Falls. The police there said he was involved in an attempted carjacking and the theft of a gun on Friday afternoon. Authorities warned people to stay away from him, describing him as “armed and dangerous.”
Kuintzle is already facing serious charges in a first-degree murder case in Jerome County. He’s accused of shooting and killing an 84-year-old man at the victim’s home back in September 2023. Along with the murder charge, he’s also accused of burglary and destroying evidence. His trial for these charges is set for next year.
The Idaho Department of Correction shared more details about Kuintzle’s criminal history. He has previous convictions for grand theft in Ada County and stealing a vehicle in Canyon County. He was eligible for parole in April 2022, but his full sentence wasn’t set to end until January 2030.
This incident adds another chapter to Kuintzle’s troubled history, but thanks to law enforcement’s efforts, he’s back in custody.
