Iowa Man Arrested 6 Years After Allegedly Faking Death to Dodge Trial on Child Pornography Charges

An Iowa man alleged to have faked his own death to avoid a trial on child pornography charges was arrested this week.

Jacob Greer of Des Moines was arrested in Washington state on Tuesday, per a regional report from KIMT News 3, and initially placed in custody at a facility in Seattle. Described as a “survivalist,” 28-year-old Greer has been pursued by law enforcement since late 2016, which is when he’s said to have removed an ankle monitor he was required to wear as part of his pre-trial release.

“The arrest of Jacob Greer after six years is a testament to the tenacity of Deputy U.S. Marshals and our investigative partners,” Ted Kamatchus, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Iowa, said this week. “Even though the case went cold, they would not quit.”

Greer was previously arrested in April 2016 on charges of receipt and possession of child pornography. The following month, officials were alerted to the removal of the ankle monitor, with a subsequent search effort involving multiple authorities ultimately resulting in the discovery of Greer’s car. Inside the car, police said, was an apparent suicide note. When Greer’s body was not located, a federal arrest warrant was issued.

In June 2016, Greer was reported to have been spotted at a Walmart in Montana. That same month, another vehicle “associated with” Greer was found in the Flathead area, again without the fugitive. Although initially placed under custody in Seattle, Greer will be relocated to face his trial in Des Moines.