FBI Manhunt for 'Timothy McVeigh-Like' Ex-Marine on the Lam
Charles Dyer is wanted for the alleged rape of a 7-year-old girl.
Aug. 24, 2011— -- A former Marine who is part of a right wing group that calls for an uprising is the target of an FBI manhunt ranging from Oklahoma to Florida.
Charles Alan Dyer, 31, of Duncan, Okla., failed to appear in court on Monday, Aug. 15, on charges he raped a 7-year-old gir. His failure to appear launched a federal dragnet covering 12 states in the South.
Authorities are warning that Dyer is believed to be armed and dangerous. Sheriff Wayne McKinney of Stephens County, Okla., described him as a "Timothy McVeigh" like individual, referring to the right wing militia member executed for blowing up a federal building in Oklahoma City in 1995.
Dyer is part of a controversial group called Oath Keepers that includes current and former law enforcement and military members who take an oath to obey the Constitution rather than the president. Dyer has posted videos on YouTube talking about a "New World Order" and calling for people to "rise up" against "tyrannical government."
An ABC News review of court records reveals that Dyer was indicted on federal charges for possessing an unregistered Colt M-203 grenade launcher.
Authorities believe Dyer was in the Houston area last week following reports from residents in nearby Wallis that a man matching Dyer's description knocked on doors there asking for a ride to Houston, according to ABC News affiliate KTRK.
"My older brother had him there. He was knocking on his window," witness Greg Hatton said. "When I pulled up, for example, first I called him to see if that's him, hold him. That's the guy we're looking for, hold him. And we're always armed. We're concealed gun licensed carriers and he had him right at the point there, but he took off running. And when he took off running he ran across this track here, went to my neighbor's house and asked him for a ride."
The FBI said that Dyer does not seem to have a car and is instead using a network of people he knows from Oath Keeper websites to get around, according to special agent Clay Simmonds, a spokesman for the agency.
FBI Chasing Ex-Marine Charles Dyer
Three days before his court date, Dyer's residence was found burned to the ground, according to the FBI. Two men believed to have started the fire are in custody and are believed to be affiliated with Dyer's organization, according to McKinney.
The day of the fire, Dyer's attorney filed a motion requesting that the trial date be pushed back due to the fire at Dyer's home.
"Oath Keeper" Charles Dyer Target of Federal Manhunt
This is the second trial Dyer was scheduled for the charges. In April, the first trial was declared a mistrial, McKinney said. The sheriff also said that Dyer had been seen hanging around the courthouse in the days leading up to the trial, wearing a thigh holster and backpack and carrying a Bible. McKinney said the behavior was meant to intimidate people at the court.
The FBI is asking for the public's assistance in locating Dyer, putting up digital billboards depicting Dyer's image at locations in Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina and South Carolina.
A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for any information leading to Dyer's arrest. Dyer is described as a white male, 5-foot-10 and 175 to 200 pounds, brown hair and blue eyes. Information obtained has indicated Dyer may have grown a beard, lost some weight and his head is no longer shaved.