Man wanted on federal charges takes own life in standoff with law enforcement

Thursday morning September 7, 2023, Federal Marshals, assisted by Kentucky State Police, and Knox County Ky. Sheriff's Deputies, were attempting to arrest an individual on a federal escape charge.
That individual barricaded himself in a residence in the Stinking Creek Community refusing to comply with officers orders to surrender. After some time, the individual took his own life.

The individual had been in custody since 2017 on federal drug charges regarding guns and Methamphetamine possession in Knox County. On June 28, 2022, the individual escaped federal custody, was indicted in July 2022 for escape, and was facing an additional five year sentence. He had been on the run for several years from the marshal service.

We have reached out KSP Trooper Shane Jacobs who tells us his agency will not be putting out a press release due to the nature of the incident.

We have reached out to Knox County Ky. Coroner Mike Blevins whose office tells us they will not be releasing the individual's name.

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(Mountain Advocate Publisher's Note: Coverage of suicides is something we typically do not provide. The nature of this particular case is high profile and while the release of more information is warranted, we believe in allowing the agencies involved with the situation the opportunity to properly identify the subject before the media releases their name. As such time information is of an official public nature, not just social media, we will make it known.)