The FBI has revived its pursuit of a suspected eco-terrorist, Josephine Sunshine Overaker, wanted for a series of arson attacks in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This development coincides with the arrest of two individuals in Los Angeles County for impersonating firefighters near the Palisades Fire. Dustin Nehl, 31, and Jennifer Nehl, 44, were apprehended driving a decommissioned firetruck falsely marked with the insignia of the fictitious "Roaring River Fire Department." Authorities discovered they were wearing CAL Fire T-shirts beneath their firefighting gear. Dustin Nehl has a prior criminal record involving arson. While there is no apparent connection between the Nehls and Overaker, the timing of the arrests prompted the FBI to recirculate Overaker's wanted poster on the 24th anniversary of her indictment.
The 1998 Vail Ski Resort arson, attributed to Overaker and her alleged group "The Family." (FBI/YouTube)
Overaker is accused of participating in arson attacks linked to extremist groups like the Earth Liberation Front and the Animal Liberation Front. These incidents spanned several states, including Oregon, Washington, California, Colorado, and Wyoming. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to her capture. Overaker's age is uncertain, but she is believed to have been born between 1971 and 1974.
Overaker's distinctive back tattoo and an age-progressed image. (FBI)
Overaker remains the last fugitive in the 1998 Vail Ski Resort fire, a devastating act of eco-terrorism. The fire resulted in millions of dollars in damage, destroying the Two Elk Lodge restaurant, chair lifts, and other structures. Overaker's alleged cell, "The Family," is believed to be responsible for damages ranging from $45 million to $80 million across 25 arson attacks. She is accused of shoplifting bomb-making materials to evade detection.
The rebuilt Two Elk Lodge. (John Epperson/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
A Canadian-born American citizen, Overaker has a distinctive bird tattoo on her back. The FBI suggests she may be impersonating various professions, including a firefighter, midwife, sheep tender, or masseuse. She is fluent in Spanish and may have relocated to Spain. If apprehended and convicted, she could face life imprisonment.
