Joseph Couch escapes police in Kentucky forest: “Could survive for a very long time”

A survival expert told Newsweek that shooting suspect Joseph A. Couch could survive in the Kentucky woods for a “very long time” as the manhunt enters its fourth day.

Schools remained closed as the community remained in fear and terror while the large-scale search continued. A $25,000 reward was offered for information leading to the arrest of Couch, who shot at at least a dozen vehicles “about 30 feet from the top of a cliff” near Interstate 75 in London, Kentucky, on Saturday.

Five people were injured in the shooting and two more were injured in a car crash that followed. Officers from several agencies are using sniffer dogs and drones to search a heavily wooded area where they believe Couch is hiding.

Survival expert Creek Stewart spoke with Newsweek about the conditions Couch faces in the wild.

“If I had to choose a place and a time of year to escape the authorities, it would be right now in the woods of eastern Kentucky,” Stewart said.

Randall Weddle, mayor of London, Kentucky, had a simple message for Couch in an interview with Newsweek.

“You can run, but you can't hide,” Weddle said. “Eventually they'll get you.”

Stewart explained several factors that make conditions at this location optimal at this time of year.

“He doesn't really need shelter because it's nice and warm, even at night,” Stewart said. “There's plenty of water in the eastern woods. There's plenty of food in the eastern woods this time of year. There are lots of nuts, nutritious nuts and seeds and acorns, even several fruits ripen.”

Stewart identified other food sources on which Couch could survive.

“There are many roots and types of wild edible plants available this time of year that can be eaten as vegetables,” Stewart said. “Really easy foods that require little skill are crayfish and small animals like frogs, bullfrogs and snakes. These things are very easy to catch in these areas and are plentiful.”

While there are factors in Couch's favor, Stewart says he still faces significant risks.

“If he has a fire, he might boil water. But my gut tells me he only drinks water from open water sources, which can lead to waterborne diseases like Giardia, Cryptosporidium and the like that could potentially make him sick,” Stewart said. “I would say from a survival perspective, that's probably his biggest risk. If he doesn't boil water, he could potentially get sick within a few days and that can be fatal in the wild if you don't have medical care.”

He said another medical issue was an injury sustained in the wild.

“It makes everything harder and slower at first, but the real danger is infection,” Stewart said. “In this area, in these temperatures, with no antibiotics and no way to clean wounds properly, if there are open wounds or fractures, infection can develop within a matter of days and it can be absolutely fatal.”

Stewart also explained the difficulties officers face when searching a densely wooded area.

“Kentucky in particular is known for its dense hardwood forests and very dense vegetation, but that also comes with incredibly diverse terrain,” Stewart said. “We have foothills, we have cliffs, we have valleys, we have lots of rivers and streams.”

Stewart said it was likely the suspect was in the area.

“It's going to be very difficult for him to travel, just like it's difficult for them to travel and search,” Stewart said. “My gut feeling is that he's hiding in an area that's near water because that's his main survival need right now.”

Mayor: “Shocked by this evil act”

Weddle said he was initially “shocked” when he heard about the incident, then thought about how he could help.

“What do I do next as a community leader and as a public official? Law enforcement has its role and its responsibilities, but this community is now shocked by this evil act,” Weddle said.

He said there was “a lot of misinformation” on social media.

“I became a facilitator and tried to spread the right information and allay fears as much as possible,” Weddle said.

Weddle said he and other elected officials are working to provide resources and coordinate with the state.

“We have been talking to Governor Andy Beshear on a daily basis,” Weddle said.

Weddle explained the district's decision to keep schools closed while the search continued.

“The schools have decided that this is best for our children because they have to drive to school, not necessarily because they have to sit in school,” he said. “The problem will be that they have to drive to school.”

He expressed his gratitude for the support of the surrounding communities.

“That was the most amazing thing, just all the communities from Lexington to Louisville,” Weddle said. “Whether it's whether you need officers, Jackson County, Clay County, Whitley County Knox County, Rockcastle [County]they all sent officers to us. They sent more first responders. They sent us equipment, just everything we needed. It was a huge blessing to this community.”

Weddle was in contact with the families of the victims.

“They just want the individual to be caught,” he said.

He wants victims to know they have the support of the community.

“We regret that this happened, but as a community we will continue to think of them and their families and pray for them,” Weddle said.

Couch lives in Gray, Kentucky, about 25 minutes from London.

“It's a much smaller community, but since it's the largest city in this area, we imagine he travels here quite often,” Weddle said.

London has a population of about 8,053 while Gray has a population of about 2,418.

Anyone with information should contact Kentucky State Police Post 11 London at 606-878-6622, Crime Stoppers at 606-682-1013, County Communication at 606-878-7000 or the Laurel County Sheriff's Office at 606-864-6600.

“Report it to the police immediately,” Weddle said. “They will intercept any tip, any lead that is presented to them.”

Do you have a story Newsweek should report? Do you have questions about this story? Contact [email protected]