Search continues for murder suspect

SANDPOINT — An intensive manhunt continued Friday for two people wanted in connection with a murder in Nampa earlier this month.

James Patrick Mancuso and Ashley Ford fled Idaho State Police during a traffic stop in Kootenai on Wednesday. The vehicle they were in was found abandoned on Racetrack Road and a vehicle was reported stolen from nearby Zephyr Road on Thursday. The stolen vehicle is a white 1991 Toyota extended-cab pickup truck with tubular steel running boards. The truck has expired Idaho plates that either read 7B-95103 or 7B-F2239.

Bonner County sheriff's deputies and U.S. Marshals saturated Racetrack and Zephyr roads on Friday, in addition to the Upper Pack River area. Ground efforts were aided by a helicopter, but the search came up empty.

Mancuso, 34, is being sought for arrest on a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the stabbing of 30-year-old Robert L. Stevens on March 10.

Stevens died the following day, according to Nampa Police. A witness reported seeing Mancuso and Stevens arguing outside a garage before Mancuso stabbed Stevens.

Mancuso reportedly has family in Bonner County. Ford, 27, is considered a person of interest in the homicide investigation, according to Nampa Police.

A family member critical of newspaper accounts of the manhunt said in a message to the Daily Bee that Mancuso would not have acted out unless he feared his life was in danger.

Sheriff's officials said they plan to broaden search areas. The office thanked the public Friday for the information it had provided and the patience shown by residents within search areas.

Those with information on the whereabouts of Mancuso and Ford are asked to call Bonner Dispatch at 265-5525.