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Army Vet Accused Of Child Rape Faked Suicide To Avoid Jail Time, Authorities Believe
Jacob Blair Scott left behind a supposed suicide note and gun in a small boat that belonged to him, but investigators say the lack of blood and other clues point to a ruse.
U.S. Marshals continue to search for a Denver Army vet accused of child rape who they believe faked his own death to avoid jail time.
Jacob Blair Scott, 42, was set to plead guilty to several charges that he repeatedly raped a 14-year-old girl but vanished on July 30, 2018, days before he was scheduled to appear in court.
In a search for Scott, police found a suicide note in a small boat that belonged to him, along with a gun, contact information for his family, and only a small amount of blood.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Katrina Crouse was not fooled by the suspected ruse.
"Normally in situations where somebody is shot, committed suicide, you're going to have other forensic-type evidence. For example, brain matter, hair, skin, bone,” Crouse told KMGH-TV, a Denver, Colorado-based ABC affiliate. “None of that was found."
Investigators were also perplexed as to why the gun was tied to the boat.
“Almost like they wanted to make sure that the gun was discovered,” Crouse added.
Scott's body was never discovered.
“Normally bodies will float to the surface,” Crouse said.
Similarly suspicious: Scott had withdrawn $45,000 from his bank account before his disappearance.
Investigators have since received testimony from a witness on Aug. 6, 2018, who said they had seen Scott driving a vehicle in Jackson County, Mississippi. Another witnesses in the area said he was "pretty darn sure" he also spotted hin.
Scott had previously been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and was characterized as easily confused due to a brain injury sustained from an improvised explosive device while serving in the U.S. Army, his attorneys said in a court filing cited by the Biloxi Sun Herald.
Scott is now considered a fugitive. A warrant for his arrest has been issued.
Scott had been released on bond while the trial proceeded. He had received permission to undergo surgery to treat stage 3 ulcerative colitis before entering his plea, according to the Biloxi Sun Herald.
Scott had specifically been indicted on nine counts of sexual battery against a minor and four counts of touching of a child for lustful purposes as well as an additional charge of child exploitation for filming the minor for crimes that allegedly took place between Nov. 1, 2016, and Feb. 28, 2017.
Metro Denver Crime Stoppers is offering $2,000 as a reward for information. They encourage anyone who may know of Scott's whereabouts to contact them at 720-913-STOP or by texting the letters DMCS plus a message to 274637. Tips may be left anonymously.
[Photo: U.S. Marshals]
