Fred Russell was taken to a hospital and placed under arrest for vehicular homicide/assault. Fred's blood alcohol count registered .12, which is over state's .08 legal limit. Stacy Morrow's father, Rich, who has become the ad hoc spokesperson for the families, says that getting the news "was the absolute worst moment of my life." According to Greg Russell, Fred's father, his son was deeply upset about the accident. Fred was released on $5,000 bond; the low bail was an insult to the friends and family members of the victims. Meanwhile, according to Greg Russell, Fred was receiving numerous death threats, including one which stated that Fred would never live long enough to go to prison.

Public anger began to grow as Fred's team of lawyers prepared the defense. A motion was filed disputing the blood alcohol findings. Challenges were made as to whether Fred was really responsible for the accident. There were court appearances all summer - Fred Russell attended them all. But on October 26, 2001, the day of the pre-trial hearing, when Fred was expected to plead guilty, he never showed up. According to police, Russell fled Pullman sometime within the prior 48 hours. Both his lawyers and family claim to have not heard from him since. Shortly after he jumped bail, Greg Russell and several local newspapers received a letter signed by Fred. It read in part: "I left because I had no choice. Since the first day after the tragic accident, horrible things have been printed about me. Now people are so enraged that they would rather see me dead than receive a fair trial. I maintain my innocence. But my life has been repeatedly threatened, so I cannot stay."

It has now been seven months since Russell vanished. Because his passport is missing, he may be in Canada or Costa Rica. Some believe he is in Alaska, California or Nevada. Investigators, though, are certain of this: given that Fred is hardly street-wise and doesn't like to get his hands dirty, someone is helping him on the road. Says Rich Morrow: "If I could talk to Fred right now, I would say, 'Look son, I know you didn't get in your car that night to intentionally kill my daughter. But you did. And not only that, you seriously impacted the lives of several families, of several people. You have to come back and you have to face the music.'"

UPDATE: Frederick Russell has been captured.  In October of 2005, Irish police --acting on information from the U.S. Marshals-- arrested Russell in a Dublin clothing store where he worked as a security guard.   He is currently in custody awaiting an extradition hearing.  We will bring you more information on a future broadcast.