POCATELLO, Idaho — Kevin Nicholas Kuintzle, 33, a murder suspect, is back in custody following a 24-hour manhunt that spanned across Idaho. Authorities announced his arrest Friday night after he was located by Pocatello Police and Idaho State Police. The arrest was made without incident.
The Idaho Department of Corrections (IDC) confirmed that Kuintzle had escaped from the St. Anthony Work Camp in Fremont County on Thursday evening. After the escape, law enforcement reported seeing Kuintzle in Idaho Falls on Friday afternoon, where he was believed to have attempted a carjacking and stolen a firearm. The Idaho Falls Police Department later confirmed the incident but did not elaborate on the details.
Kuintzle is charged with first-degree murder in connection to the September 2023 shooting death of 84-year-old man in Jerome County, where he is accused of killing the victim inside his home. He is also facing charges of burglary and destruction of evidence. His trial is scheduled for 2025.
Kuintzle has a history of prior convictions, including grand theft in Ada County and operating a vehicle without permission in Canyon County. He was eligible for parole in April 2020 but was scheduled to complete his previous sentence by 2030.
“We are grateful for the support from law enforcement agencies across the state of Idaho, as well as Mendocino County, who assisted in the search for Mr. Kuintzle,” the IDC said in their statement.
The manhunt and capture mark the end of a tense 24 hours for local communities, but Kuintzle’s legal journey is far from over as he faces significant charges for his alleged role in the deadly crime.
