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Thursday, April 5, 2012

Pittsburgh's Armored Truck Fugitive: Where is Kenneth Konias?

     I'm surprised that fugitive hunters who have the resources of city, county, state, and federal law enforcement behind them, have not found Kenneth Konias, the man who murdered his armored truck partner, and ran off with $2.3 million. Konias, on the lamb since February 28, was even featured on the nationally broadcast true crime show, "America's Most Wanted." His parents have been on television pleading with him to surrender, and the armored car company has posted a $100,000 reward. Why hasn't this young man been caught?

     I had assumed that Konias hadn't made sophisticated post-crime arrangements regarding how to lay low for an extended period of time. I thought he'd be caught within a week of the murder. Perhaps he would be arrested in his tan Ford Explorer, or picked-up boarding a bus or a train, or trying to cross the borders into Canada or Mexico. Maybe he'd get in touch with a friend or relative, or call attention to himself by buying a car with a large sum of cash.

     Since Konias hasn't been found, I'm guessing he's hiding in one place rather than moving about the country. If he's being harbored, it's probably by someone doing it for a generous cut of the stolen cash. So, where is the hideout? And where is his Ford Explorer? If Konias' accomplice-after-the-fact is a trusted friend, he might still be in the Pittsburgh area.

     In murder cases, the more time that passes without an arrest, the less likely the homicide will be solved. In fugitive investigations, the passage of time can enhance the chance of an arrest. After awhile, the fugitive has to come out of hiding, and try to get on with his normal life. This includes acquiring a place to live, opening a bank account, getting credit cards, securing a cellphone, and buying a car. Eventually, most fugitives reach out to close relatives, and old friends. Although the police like to catch their high-profile fugitives as soon as possible, finding them can end up becoming a waiting game.

     Although Konias has remained at large longer than I thought he would, I think he will be caught sooner rather than later.      

(The material in this blog is based upon reportage in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.)

3 comments:

  1. Maybe he is dead. Someone caught up with him and took the money?

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  2. yep. I think he had to rely on a dope dealer. The car is torn apart and in the bottom of the river. He's peobably dead and buried. People are being murdered in the streets for quarters...drug dealers would have no problem for that type of cash.

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  3. everyone thought he would be caught the mon. after the murder and almost 2months later still hasnt. people who assume things like that and about him are stupid. if i had a 2hour jump on the police and 2million cash and weapons i would have to be a complete idiot to be caught in the 1st year! all he has to do is buy his major purchases used or get a girlfriend and put everything in her name, duh. he's not dead, why would he speak to a drug dealer when the world knows he has 2 million cash, think people. he has the resources and the window not to get caught, so why would anyone bet he will if you dont personally know him and his street smarts

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