Terrorism Suspects Remain at Large 10 Years Later

On Dec. 7, 2005, FBI agents and members of the Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs) in Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Virginia, and New York initiated the takedown of the most prolific domestic terrorism cell of the time: The Family.

The case – Operation Backfire – was considered a “major case” by the FBI, meaning the investigators were able to draw on additional resources from across the country as they identified, charged, and arrested those responsible. Although the FBI’s Portland Division managed the case, agents from Seattle, Denver, and Sacramento all played significant roles.

In all, FBI agents tied The Family, as the members called themselves, to more than 40 criminal acts ranging from vandalism to arson between 1995 and 2001. The total estimated costs of those criminal acts hit $48 million. The cell’s 1998 arson attack on a ski resort in Vail, Colorado, was its most notorious crime: estimated damage for this one event was $26 million.

In all, a federal grand jury in Oregon indicted a total of 17 people, 15 of whom pled guilty. The various JTTFs involved picked up most of those charged in that sweep that started in December 2005. A few remaining fugitives, including Justin Solondz and Rebecca Rubin, were either captured or turned themselves in.

Two others remain fugitives: Josephine Sunshine Overaker and Joseph Dibee.

For Josephine Overaker, the FBI Laboratory created an age-progressed image of what she might look like now. There are no known sightings of her since she disappeared in 2003, so the FBI is relying on this tool to help in the search. Overaker has a distinct tattoo on her back. It is an image of a bird, running from her right upper arm across her upper back. She has another unknown tattoo on her upper left arm, and scars on her ankles, right calf, and right thigh. She is fluent in Spanish and, based upon her previous experiences, may look for a job as a firefighter, midwife, sheep tender, or masseuse. Years ago she was a drug user, so there is the possibility that she still has substance abuse issues. She was living a vegan lifestyle and may still be.

There is the possibility that Overaker spent time in Spain. There were “direct actions” in 2006 in Spain dedicated to the memory of William Rodgers. Investigators believe Rodgers was a leader within The Family, but he died before the case made it to trial. Beyond that, Overaker is fluent in Spanish, and she may have found kindred spirits amongst anti-government forces in Spain or in other parts of Europe.

As for Joseph Dibee, the FBI believes he may has been in Syria for some time. Given the political and military situation there, it is difficult to know his status.

More pictures, including the FBI Wanted flyers, can be found on the FBI website.