Dragnet continues for murder suspect

SANDPOINT — Two people wanted in connection with a killing in southern Idaho were still on the run on Thursday, according to Bonner County Sheriff's officials.

James Patrick Mancuso and Ashley Ford fled an Idaho State Police traffic stop in Kootenai on Wednesday. A pursuing ISP vehicle became stuck on railroad tracks between McGhee and North Kootenai roads.

Officers from the sheriff's office, Ponderay and Sandpoint police departments and the U.S. Marshals service saturated the area in an effort to contain the two suspects. Mancuso's vehicle was found abandoned on Racetrack Road.

Deputies, dog teams and detectives went door-to-door in hunting for the suspects, checking occupied and unoccupied residences. After several hours of searching, the primary search teams were pulled from the area and tasked with sorting out other leads. However, law enforcement remained present in the area.

Sheriff's officials announced on Thursday that they took a report of a stolen Toyota pickup truck on Lower Zephyr Road, which is just north of Racetrack and in line with where Mancuso and Ford were headed.

The Toyota is a white, 1999 extended cab four-wheel drive with tubular running boards. It has an expired Idaho license plates of 7B-95103 or 7B-F2239.

Sheriff's officials emphasized that the two suspects are not thought to be targeting anyone in the area, although they are considered to be armed and dangerous.

Nampa Police were summoned to a residence on the afternoon of March 19 after receiving a report of a stabbing. The alleged victim, 30-year-old Robert L. Stevens, was mortally wounded and died on March 11, Nampa Police said in a news release.

Nampa Police said a witness reported seeing two males arguing outside a garage at the residence. One man was stabbed in the abdomen and another fled the scene.

Mancuso, 27, and Stevens were known to one another. Ford, also 27, fled with Mancuso and is considered a person of interest in the homicide investigation.

Nampa Police obtained an arrest warrant for Mancuso on a charge of second-degree murder, according to the Idaho Press-Tribune.

A Nampa Police detective declined on Thursday to comment on the case, referring inquiries to a supervisor.

Mancuso was convicted in a 1999 aggravated battery case in Ada County, according to the Idaho Supreme Court Data Repository. He was convicted of battery, eluding and possession of a stolen vehicle in a 2004 Bonner County case. He was also convicted of driving under the influence and grand theft by possession in a 2003 Bonner County case.

The repository states Mancuso was charged with theft and burglary in Boundary County, but those charges were dismissed by the state.