Sibling Fugitives Apprehended in The State of Colorado

Dubbed the Dougherty Gang, two brothers and sister, all in their 20’s, have been the focus of a massive nationwide manhunt after a crime spree spanning several states.  Their rampage began August 2, 2011 near Tampa, Florida moments after one brother was released from prison and cut off a court-ordered ankle bracket.  As part of his probation, he was ordered to wear a tracking anklet.

When an officer tried to pull them over for speeding, the siblings allegedly fired at least 20-shots at the officer.   Just hours later, they were the suspects in the bank robbery in the State of Georgia.

The trio, 21-year-old Ryan Edward Dougherty, 26-year-old Dylan Dougherty Stanley and 29-year-old Lee Grace Dougherty is alleged to have robbed banks in Florida and Georgia, brandishing automatic pistols and AK-47’s.

The Federal Bureau of Investigations has called them extremely dangerous fugitives and that they were packing a powerful arsenal and they are not afraid to use it.  For more than one week, they have been on the run while their mother made an impassioned plea for the trio to turn themselves in.  The siblings sent a text message to their mother saying “there is a time for all of us to die” implying they were not going to stop!

All three siblings have a troubled past.  Ryan is a convicted sex offender, recently found guilty of sending explicit text messages to an 11-year-old girl. Lee Grace was recently charged with battery and hit and run, and posted online she “loves to shoot guys and wreck cars.” Dylan has been charged with marijuana possession.

As luck would have it, a Colorado deputy spotted the three siblings from bulletins received and the massive media blast and reports from various agencies.  The deputy requested immediate backup from the Colorado State Patrol.  A 100 mph high-speed, 20 mile chase ended after shots were fired by the trio at authorities while driving.   Colorado State troopers deployed stop sticks, but the vehicle was traveling so fast that the suspects lost control. The trio was apprehended after their vehicle crashed and rolled over.   Two were injured in the crash and Lee Dougherty was shot in the leg by a police officer after she ran into a field and pointed a gun at the officer.

Police in the State of Colorado did recover two AK-47s, a machine pistol and a handgun from the trio’s vehicle.  Each are being held on four counts of first-degree assault on a police officer and federal counts will also be forthcoming.  

It seems quite obvious to me that all must have had issues in their childhood and with their family members.  What a waste of time, money and life.