Fremont County Escapee Wanted for Attempted Murder Back in Custody After Multi-Agency Manhunt

Colorado Springs, CO – A fugitive escapee wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office is back in custody after a massive, multi-agency manhunt in southeast Colorado Friday evening.

Kegan Vanvliet, 45, escaped from the Fremont County jail around 1:00 p.m. Friday afternoon where he was being held on charges from the Canon City Police Department for attempted murder, possession of a dangerous weapon, prohibited use of a weapon, possession of a weapon by a previous offender, and domestic violence. Around 2:00 p.m., the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the southeast team of the U.S. Marshals Service Colorado Violent Offender Task Force (COVOTF) in attempting to locate and apprehend Vanvliet.

The southeast COVOTF team, who was already in the area after wrapping up another case, quickly began requesting and coordinating resources from a number of agencies in the area. Deputy U.S. Marshals based out of Colorado Springs, as well as COVOTF Task Force Officers (TFOs) from the Fountain Police Department, Otero County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Department of Corrections, and Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office began pursuing leads on Vanvliet’s whereabouts in the Canon City area. Additional assistance was sought and provided from the Colorado State Patrol, Colorado Springs Police Department, Canon City Police Department, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Pueblo Police Department, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and Alamosa County Sheriff’s Office. 

Information obtained by investigators had them pursuing leads in Canon City, Pueblo West, and Colorado Springs. As the investigation progressed, the Colorado Springs Police Department’s (CSPD) Tactical Enforcement Unit (TEU) and K9 Units closed in on a lead that Vanvliet was in north Colorado Springs near I-25 and N Nevada Ave. Shortly after midnight, Vanvliet was located by aerial surveillance support units in the 5800 block of North Nevada Avenue. CSPD TEU and K9 units located Vanvliet in the area and took him into custody after a short foot pursuit where Vanvliet again attempted to flee.

Vanvliet was transported by Colorado State Patrol Units and U.S. Marshals to the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center where he was booked on the outstanding Fremont County arrest warrant for the escape.

The U.S. Marshals Service would like to thank the Colorado Springs Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Canon City Police Department, Otero County Sheriff’s Office, Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, Fountain Police Department, Colorado Department of Corrections, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Pueblo Police Department, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and the Alamosa County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance and joint cooperation in this investigation.

The Colorado Violent Offender Task Force (COVOTF) is a multi-jurisdictional fugitive task force that targets the most violent offenders to include those wanted for murder, assault, sex offenses, and other serious offenses throughout the state and country. 

Nationally, the U.S. Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive task forces, eight regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @USMSDenver.