Two men involved in a shootout with police in Boise and linked to a double homicide in north Idaho had their arrest warrants served and face a preliminary court hearing on April 8.
Nicolas Umphenour faces two counts of aggravated battery on law enforcement, a separate count of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, a charge of firing a deadly weapon during the commission of a crime, and a charge of aiding and abetting an escape. Skylar Meade faces a charge of felony escape.
Tonia Huber, the third suspect, was also arrested on charges related to Meade’s escape and drug possession.
Both Umphenour’s and Meade’s bail have been set at $2 million for the escape felony.
Nicolas Umphenour and Skylar Meade, both members of the Aryan Knighthood, a neo-Nazi group, were arrested on March 21 in Twin Falls, Idaho, after police found them after a 500-mile manhunt across northern Idaho, Montana and southern Idaho, according to Idaho State Police. After their arrest, they were extradited and arraigned in Ada County.
Meade and Umphenour are linked to two homicides occurring within the timeline of their escape. According to ISP, 83-year-old James L. Mauney of Julietta, and 72-year-old “Don” Henderson were found murdered in separate counties in rural Idaho. Both Umphenour and Meade have not been charged with either homicide yet but are still under investigation.
According to the Boise Police Department, Meade was being transferred back to an IDOC facility after being admitted to St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise for self-inflicted injuries on March 20. Around 2 a.m., Umphenour intercepted Meade’s transfer with a stolen grey 2020 Honda Civic and shot two IDOC officers.
BPD responded to the scene at the hospital and a BPD officer shot and injured an additional IDOC officer in an exchange of gunfire. No officers were killed and two remain in the hospital and are in stable condition.
According to ISP, it is believed that Meade and Umphenour drove north and encountered Mauney walking his dogs in Julietta, Idaho. Mauney and his dogs were taken and driven eastbound in his silver 2019 Chrysler Pacifica. On March 20, police found the abandoned Honda Civic from the initial getaway and the body of Mauney in a desolate area of Leland, Idaho. Police do not think Mauney knew the suspects.
Henderson was found murdered at his residence in Orofino, Idaho. Mauney’s dogs and Meade’s handcuffs were also found at the scene. In an interview with the Idaho Statesman, Ron Thompson, Henderson’s partner, revealed that they had previously been acquainted with Umphenour 10 years ago.
Both Henderson and Thompson had briefly let Umphenour stay with them 10 years ago because he was not getting along with his father. This arrangement only lasted about a month before Henderson and Thompson kicked out Umphenour for displaying “frightening behavior”.
According to ISP, it is believed that Umphenour and Meade then drove to Missoula, Mont., in Mauney’s stolen Chrysler and then to the residence of 52-year-old Tonia Huber in Filer, Idaho.
Shortly after arriving, Meade and Umphenour left in separate vehicles. Meade was apprehended nearby, and Umphenour attempted to flee but was pursued and apprehended. Both were captured with no gunshots fired.
Ben DeWitt can be reached at [email protected] or on X @BenDeWitt321