(FBI)
By Emily Scarvie
(PORTLAND, Ore.) A fugitive with ties to Oregon will be featured on a new episode of America’s Most Wanted on Monday, FOX 12 reports.
Josephine Sunshine Overaker is wanted for arson and other crimes, dating back to 1996 when she was a member of “The Family,” an eco-terrorism cell. Overaker and other members acted in the name of extremist groups, such as the Earth Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front.
The crimes spanned five states: Oregon, Washington, Colorado, California and Wyoming, Special Agent Tim Suttles told FOX 12.
In Oregon, the crimes involved the arson of a Detroit Ranger Station, Oakridge Ranger Station and Cabel West in Redmond. Overaker took part in all of these crimes and has been a fugitive since 2004, Suttles said.
Of the crimes the group committed, the Vail ski resort arson is the most famous, and remains the largest eco-related arson in history, according to the FBI.
According to Suttles, 15 members of “The Family” have been prosecuted and have already served their time in jail.
“She is the last remaining fugitive of this case, and it’s been going on for 16 plus years,” he said.
Suttles said Overaker left the United States shortly after Operation Backfire, which was a national FBI operation that resulted in the arrests of some of her co-conspirators. He said she is fluent in Spanish and may be living in Spain currently.
The FBI is offering up to $50,000 for tips leading to her arrest. Anyone with tips is asked to contact the FBI at 1 (800) CALL - FBI, or go to tips.fbi.gov.
America’s Most Wanted airs at 9 p.m. on Monday on FOX 12 Oregon.