Cops: Father-Son Duo Evaded Authorities

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Kevin Tracey was interviewed by AMW shortly after the attack which nearly cost him his life.

Officials say a man in the Dougan Falls area of Skamania County, Wash. was attacked with a stick and barely survived during a leisurely cross-country ski trek though the forest.

According to U.S. Marshals and Skamania County Sheriff’s Department, the two suspects are 34-year-old Michael Collins and his 16-year-old son, Teven David Collins.

Michael Collins was already wanted for failure to register as a sex offender at the time of the assault, and his teenage son was wanted for probation violations.

Cops told AMW they may have tried to kill again while on the lam.

A Senseless Assault In Pacific Northwest

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Michael Collins had a fugitive warrant for failure to register as a sex offender, according to US Marshals.

On Feb. 9, 2009, cops say a nature-loving resident of Washougal, Wash. was the victim of a vicious carjacking which left him hospitalized. Kevin Tracey, 52, had come to the Dougan Falls area for a day of cross-country skiing.

Police say Michael and Teven Collins walked up to Tracey, took his car keys and told them they had to kill him.

He was beaten repeatedly, in and around the head and torso with a stick, dragged through the woods and left for dead. Tracey regained consciousness and crawled to a nearby creek.

Tracey told AMW he heard voices and cried out for help. Three hikers came to his rescue. They ran to the nearest house for help and Tracey was rushed to the hospital.

The Skamania County Sheriff’s Department said that detectives identified the two suspects through tips from material witnesses.

Warrants were issued for Michael David Collins, 33, and his son Teven David Collins, 16, both of Vancouver, Wash., for attempted murder and robbery.

Looking For An Easy Way Out?

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Cops say Michael and Teven had recently reunited and were camping in the woods when they came upon Kevin Tracey.

Cops say Michael and Teven had been hiding out for several days in the Dougan Falls area to avoid their arrests on separate, pending charges.

U.S. Marshals had been tracking the pair from California when they fled to Washington. Sheriff’s deputies say father and son caught wind that cops were already moving in on them, and Kevin just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The vehicle they're accused of stealing from Kevin is a black 1998 Ford Explorer with Washington plate number 455YHY.

Police arrested two material witnesses on Feb. 19. Dania M. Whalen and Nathan W. Davis, both 18 years old, are being held in the Skamania County Jail on $500,000 bond.

The Sheriff’s Dept. says: “Due to the information we believe they have concerning the facts of this case, it is a high probability that they may be a flight risk.”

On March 25, 2009, Teven and Michael Collins were arrested in Ensenda, Mex. thanks to an AMW tipster. 

Wanted For:

• Attempted Murder , Skamania , WA ; Feb 2009

(Information valid as of May 16, 2009)

Associated Persons:

Teven Collins
Michael's son Teven is also wanted for the attempted murder of Kevin Tracey.
Fugitive
»More information

Television Airings:

• »May 16, 2009
• »March 21, 2009

AMW Radio:

• »March 23 2009

AMW Capture #1063

End Of The Line For The Collins Boys

Michael Collins, shortly after his capture in Ensenada, Mexico.
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Back in January 2009, 34-year-old Michael Collins began his life on the run from federal authorities for failing to register as a child sex offender. Meanwhile, his 16-year-old son, Teven, had tracked his father down through one of Collins’ nine other children. The two reconnected after a decade-long absence and went into hiding together in the woods of Skamania County, just outside Washougal, Wash. 

At 6:00 a.m., investigators returned to Ensenada and apprehended Michael and Teven Collins without incident. “Mike was with the mom and Teven was with the daughter. They were all fast asleep,” Reyes said.