Police say he faked death off Alabama coast to avoid child rape charge. Now he’s on ‘most wanted’ list.

The U.S. Marshals today elevated the fugitive status of a Mississippi man who allegedly faked his own death to avoid prosecution for raping his 14-year-old stepdaughter.

Jacob Blair Scott, 43, is now a Marshals’ 15 Most Wanted fugitive, and authorities are asking the public for information that could lead to his arrest.

“Jacob Scott stands accused of unspeakable crimes against a child,” said U.S. Marshals Service Director Donald Washington. “The Marshals will leave no stone unturned until we bring him to justice.”

Scott faces a 14-count indictment charging him with sexual battery, touching a child for lustful purposes, and exploitation of a child. He was out on bond, but had failed to appear for a scheduled court hearing, when investigators found his abandoned dinghy off the coast of Orange Beach, Alabama, in July 2018.

During their search of Scott’s vessel, authorities found a gun and a note, but little forensic evidence indicating a suicide. A week-long search of the Gulf of Mexico was conducted for Scott’s body, but his remains were never found. Authorities later discovered Scott had withdrawn $45,000 from a bank account before his disappearance. The money was never recovered.

Scott is a 5-foot-10 white male weighing approximately 225 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. He is a survivalist and a military veteran who received a Purple Heart in 2011 for injuries he sustained while deployed in Iraq. His military background and knowledge of the outdoors may enable him to live off the grid. His unique physical characteristics include tattoos of a machete knife, scorpion, and a compass with feathers. There have been reported possible sightings of Scott in Mississippi, Colorado, Nevada, and Louisiana.

U.S. Marshals offer a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading directly to his arrest. Anyone with information should notify the agency at the nearest U.S. Marshals office, the Communications Center at 1-877-WANTED-2, online via the web, or an app at www.usmarshals.gov/tips.

SportsPlus

News

Alabama teen killed when dirt bike collides with pickup truck, state troopers say

News

Alabama man convicted in fentanyl overdose death of 15-year-old girl

News

Alabama man killed in early morning collision, state troopers say

News

Worker killed after rock collapse at Alabama mine

News

Man killed by Alabama officers after he lunged at them with knife identified

News

Unoccupied police car crashes into Alabama restaurant patio injuring two adults, two children

News

Four dead, more than 20 injured after Alabama mass shooting

News

Alabama teen killed when ATV strikes tree, state troopers say

News

Alabama motorcyclist killed, another driver charged with his death after crash, state troopers say

News

Alabama man killed when car runs off road, hits utility pole, gas line, then tree, state troopers say

News

Alabama deputies involved in multi-state car chase, ending with shooting

News

Alabama man arrested after reportedly planting GPS device on car to stalk victim

News

Alabama man found guilty of plotting to murder federal prosecutor

News

Alabama police confiscate animals after photo shows malnourished dog chained to car

News

Alabama man killed when personal watercraft hits log, throws man onto shore, state police say

News

Alabama man killed when motorcycle strikes guardrail, state troopers say

News

15-year-old driver leads Alabama police on 5-county chase

News

Alabama motorcyclist killed in crash with SUV, 18-wheeler

News

Alabama man killed in head-on collision with SUV, state troopers say

News

92-year-old man, his 88-year-old wife killed in apparent murder-suicide, Alabama police say

News

Alabama woman charged with murders after elderly woman beaten with hammer dies, man’s body found

News

Alabama teen killed, three others injured including baby when car crashed into trees, state troopers say

News

Two men found dead inside apartment at Alabama senior living facility

News

Alabama woman crossing the street killed in hit-and-run accident