Two members of an Idaho white supremacist prison gang, Skylar Meade and Nicholas Umphenour, along with a woman named Tia Garcia, are due in court for a preliminary hearing. Meade and Umphenour are charged with escaping from custody, as well as in connection to the deaths of two men in Clearwater and Nez Perce counties. The victims are identified as James L. Mauney and Gerald Don Henderson. Umphenour had lived with Henderson for a period when he was younger. The escapees are believed to be members of the Aryan Knights white supremacist prison gang and have a history of criminal activity.
Skylar Meade, 31, was serving a 20-year sentence for shooting at a sheriff’s sergeant, while Nicholas Umphenour was released in January after serving time for theft and gun convictions. The two were housed together at times and had mutual friends in and out of prison. Meade was recently in solitary confinement due to security risks. The escape occurred on March 20 at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, where Meade was being treated for self-inflicted injuries. Two corrections officers were wounded in the escape, and a third was mistakenly shot by responding police officers.
Tia Garcia, who is accused of falsely reporting her car stolen after the escape, has also been charged in connection with the incident. Another individual, Tonia Huber, has been charged with harboring a fugitive, eluding police, and drug possession for driving the truck Meade was in when he was apprehended. The escapees had used a vehicle provided by Garcia during their 36 hours on the run in Twin Falls, Idaho, where they were eventually arrested. The investigation revealed that Meade and Umphenour had stolen Mauney’s minivan to flee the authorities.
Nicholas Umphenour faces additional charges of aggravated battery on an officer and using a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony stemming from the armed ambush at the hospital. Authorities have described the Aryan Knights gang as a “scourge” in Idaho’s penitentiary system. Individuals from the gang are known for their white supremacist beliefs and have a history of criminal activity. The deaths of Mauney and Henderson are believed to be connected to the escape as the escapees were found in possession of Mauney’s stolen vehicle.
The attack on the corrections officers occurred in the early hours of the morning at the hospital’s ambulance bay, where Meade was brought for treatment. Meade refused the treatment upon arrival, and the escape was executed shortly after. The wounded officers are expected to recover from their injuries. Authorities have emphasized the danger posed by gangs like the Aryan Knights in the state’s prison system and are working to ensure the safety of both officers and the general public. The connection between the escape and the homicides of Mauney and Henderson underscores the severity of the criminal activity associated with the case.
The court proceedings for Meade, Umphenour, Garcia, and Huber will shed more light on the events leading up to the escape and the subsequent capture of the suspects. The white supremacist ties of the escapees and their alleged involvement in the deaths of two individuals have raised concerns about the prevalence of organized crime within the state. By holding the individuals accountable for their actions, law enforcement aims to send a message that criminal behavior, especially among gang members, will not be tolerated. The collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the criminal justice system will be crucial in ensuring justice is served in this case.
