Police search Slider home
Stolen guns found at home of missing Little Hocking manBy Brad Bauer
Fact Box
- Anyone with information on Slider's location is asked to call the Washington County Sheriff's Office at (740) 376-7070.
MARIETTA - Police say stolen guns were found at the residence of a Little Hocking man suspected of staging his disappearance last week, prompting a warrant to be issued Wednesday for his arrest.
Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks said not all of the stolen guns were recovered and he believes Patrick Slider is on the run with the rest.
"We do suspect he is running and from what information we have, we consider him armed and dangerous," Mincks said.
Slider, 44, of 625 Tower Road faces 87 years in prison on charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and trafficking in drugs. His trial is set to begin Monday in Washington County Common Pleas Court. Slider was indicted in November but has been out of jail on $60,000 bond since Jan. 14.
Mincks said it appears Slider staged a crime scene last week at Mountwood Park in Wood County to make it appear he had been killed or abducted.
On July 31, West Virginia State Police discovered Slider's abandoned truck and what appeared to be blood on the ground near the vehicle.
Nothing was found in a search of the park and nearby lake.
"It's hard to state in words, but basically things just didn't add up," said West Virginia State Police Cpl. C.M. Snodgrass. "I can't say for sure if there was any foul play or not. With his drug history, you never know. There could have been a drug deal that went bad. But there is still the speculation that he has faked this or disappeared to avoid the charges in Washington County."
Blood and other evidence taken from Mountwood Park are still being processed, Snodgrass said. Preliminary tests confirmed the substance found on the ground was human blood.
Mincks said deputies executed a search warrant at the Slider residence July 31, discovering stolen guns under the hood of a truck parked outside the home.
"We recovered three of those weapons that were taken from a burglary in Coolville. We do believe he is still in possession of a (shotgun or rifle) and a handgun," Mincks said. "Looking at the totality of the situation we do not believe he was injured and believe he staged the incident last week and absconded from the area."
Police say that while Slider was employed by Stericycle, a Parkersburg company that transports and disposes of medical waste, he stole and sold 250,000 prescription pills intended for disposal. Those are the basis for the charges Slider is set to go to trial on next week.
Police estimated street value of the stolen drugs between $2 million and $5 million.
The charges also call for the forfeiture of Slider's home and $2,500 in cash that was taken during a Nov. 15 search at the residence.
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adamsgirl
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08-07-08 5:30 PM
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I hope he's found and spends the rest of his life in prison where he belongs.
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SHELIA
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08-07-08 11:34 AM
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I knew from the start that whole story was suspicious.
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