DENVER – Deputy U.S. Marshals say they have received “a handful” of tips as to the whereabouts of an alleged child rapist after Denver7 broadcast his story Friday.
Investigators think Jacob Blair Scott, 42, faked his own death in Alabama and could now be hiding out in Denver.
U.S. Marshals told Denver7 they have followed up on some tips and have more to follow up on.
Jackson County Prosecutors in Pascagoula, Miss. charged Jacob Blair Scott, 42, with 14 sex charges alleging he raped a young girl. He disappeared on July 30, 2018, from Orange Beach, Ala. days before he was set to plead guilty in the case. Orange Beach is about 90 minutes from Pascagoula.
Law enforcement found a dinghy floating in the ocean, a gun tied to the boat and what they describe as a suicide note listing contact information for Scott’s family.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Katrina Crouse said previously that investigators found the situation odd from the beginning. Only a very small amount of blood was found on the dinghy.
"Normally in situations where somebody is shot, committed suicide, you're going to have other forensic-type evidence. For example, brain matter, hair, skin, bone,” she said. “None of that was found."
No body was found and Crouse said it’s unusual, even in the ocean offshore, for a body to not be found.
Scott’s mother, who lives in the Denver area, denied her son was alive when she was reached on the phone by Contact7 Investigates. She blamed the 14-year-old girl, saying the girl seduced her son. Scott’s brother and sister live in the Denver area too.
Scott took about $45,000 from his retirement account before his disappearance and that money has not been located, Crouse said.
Investigators have fielded tips from people who claimed to have seen Scott first in Mississippi and later in Denver a the Golden Spike Apartments, which are located at West Yale Avenue and South Federal Boulevard in Denver.
A second sighting in Denver came from a man doing remodeling work at the Golden Spike Apartments.
He told Denver7 investigative reporter Jace Larson he was sure he saw Scott smoking a cigarette at the apartments a month ago.
U.S. Marshals are hoping someone recognizes Scott and calls with information.
Metro Denver Crime Stoppers pays up to $2,000 reward for information in criminal cases. Call Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867.) You can also text the letters DMCS plus your message to 274637. You don’t have to leave your name and can still be eligible for a cash reward.
