On August 16th, 2016, a man covered with desert dirt, who looked as if he’d been hiking for days, walked into a rural California convenience store and bought $100 worth of junk food and water. Located near the Pacific Crest Trail, the convenience store owner was no stranger to dirty hikers. However, this man happened to match the description of a suspected murderer wanted by the police. In less than an hour, the man would be shot dead as he was walking back to the Pacific Crest Trail.

This is the crazy story of how Benjamin Peter Ashley terrorized the remote canyon communities of Central California and used the Pacific Crest Trail to elude authorities for weeks.

Sources: How a suspected killer eluded police on Pacific Crest Trail - CSMonitor.com Exclusive: Benjamin Peter Ashley's Hostages Explain How They Were Able to Escape - ABC News (go.com) Benjamin Peter Ashley: Desert Trip Almost Turns Deadly For California Teens Held Hostage By Drifter Tonight On 'Dead Silent' - Inquisitr