Delia D'Ambra

One set of tracks had been made by a boot, but the other appeared to have come from a running shoe, which investigators knew wasn't really appropriate footwear for walking in the snow. The manhunt stretched for one hour, to two, then three, and eventually more than four hours because the terrain that searchers were having to cover was fairly unforgiving.

One set of tracks had been made by a boot, but the other appeared to have come from a running shoe, which investigators knew wasn't really appropriate footwear for walking in the snow. The manhunt stretched for one hour, to two, then three, and eventually more than four hours because the terrain that searchers were having to cover was fairly unforgiving.

Authorities were reportedly wading through knee-deep and waist-deep snow, thick forest, and just all-around miserable conditions. Around 2 o'clock in the morning, which would have technically been Thursday, January 12th, more resources and personnel were brought in to assist in the search.

Authorities were reportedly wading through knee-deep and waist-deep snow, thick forest, and just all-around miserable conditions. Around 2 o'clock in the morning, which would have technically been Thursday, January 12th, more resources and personnel were brought in to assist in the search.

Law enforcement was growing increasingly worried that the Pratts would go near several vacation cabins in the area while attempting to cross the nearby Pend Oreille River. Interestingly, during the search, the sheriff's office as an agency didn't have tracking dogs as a resource, so it was totally up to the men and women on foot to track the suspects' movements and direction.

Law enforcement was growing increasingly worried that the Pratts would go near several vacation cabins in the area while attempting to cross the nearby Pend Oreille River. Interestingly, during the search, the sheriff's office as an agency didn't have tracking dogs as a resource, so it was totally up to the men and women on foot to track the suspects' movements and direction.

At one point, authorities saw where the two brothers had walked close to a few rental cottages, so to be sure they weren't hiding inside one of them, investigators went through each building individually. They quickly determined the Pratts weren't there and picked up their trail again, which led back into the woods.

At one point, authorities saw where the two brothers had walked close to a few rental cottages, so to be sure they weren't hiding inside one of them, investigators went through each building individually. They quickly determined the Pratts weren't there and picked up their trail again, which led back into the woods.

Around 2.24 a.m., the manhunt teams realized that the suspect's tracks had gone over a suspended railroad bridge that went across a small lake. But getting across this bridge wasn't going to be easy for searchers because the railroad ties were slippery and covered in ice, not to mention law enforcement were kind of sitting ducks while they attempted the feat.

Around 2.24 a.m., the manhunt teams realized that the suspect's tracks had gone over a suspended railroad bridge that went across a small lake. But getting across this bridge wasn't going to be easy for searchers because the railroad ties were slippery and covered in ice, not to mention law enforcement were kind of sitting ducks while they attempted the feat.

They had no idea if the Prats were hiding on the other side, waiting to pick them off one by one or what. It was a pretty frightening reality, but eventually the search teams did make it over safely and continued tracking their targets. About two hours later, around 4 a.m., the crews who'd been following the brothers' trail all night were worn out and needed a break.

They had no idea if the Prats were hiding on the other side, waiting to pick them off one by one or what. It was a pretty frightening reality, but eventually the search teams did make it over safely and continued tracking their targets. About two hours later, around 4 a.m., the crews who'd been following the brothers' trail all night were worn out and needed a break.

So the investigating agencies made the collective decision to pause the manhunt until fresh personnel arrived around 6 a.m. One of the first teams that launched the renewed search consisted of four men and included a 41-year-old Forest Service officer named Brent Jacobson, who sometimes went by the nickname Jake.

So the investigating agencies made the collective decision to pause the manhunt until fresh personnel arrived around 6 a.m. One of the first teams that launched the renewed search consisted of four men and included a 41-year-old Forest Service officer named Brent Jacobson, who sometimes went by the nickname Jake.

Brent was a former Navy SEAL who had a thorough knowledge of the landscape in northern Idaho. He was from Provo, Utah, but had lived a good portion of his life in Twin Falls. As a young man, he became very familiar with creeks and canyons in that area. Around 1966, after finishing his time in the Navy, he worked for the US Forest Service as a part-time firefighter.

Brent was a former Navy SEAL who had a thorough knowledge of the landscape in northern Idaho. He was from Provo, Utah, but had lived a good portion of his life in Twin Falls. As a young man, he became very familiar with creeks and canyons in that area. Around 1966, after finishing his time in the Navy, he worked for the US Forest Service as a part-time firefighter.

When he went full-time for that agency in 1974, he was stationed in Kootenai County, Idaho, before eventually transferring to the Sandpoint Ranger District in 1985. Because of all of that experience, he was heralded as a very skilled hunter, outdoorsman, and tracker. At the time, he was employed as both a fire control officer and law enforcement officer with the U.S. Forest Service.

When he went full-time for that agency in 1974, he was stationed in Kootenai County, Idaho, before eventually transferring to the Sandpoint Ranger District in 1985. Because of all of that experience, he was heralded as a very skilled hunter, outdoorsman, and tracker. At the time, he was employed as both a fire control officer and law enforcement officer with the U.S. Forest Service.

For a few hours, Brent and his team tracked the Pratt brothers through the snow and eventually came across a roadway. It was clear that the assailants had tried to throw law enforcement off the scent a few times by attempting to walk in one another's shoe tracks. But their efforts didn't deter Brent. He followed their trail for some 200 yards.

For a few hours, Brent and his team tracked the Pratt brothers through the snow and eventually came across a roadway. It was clear that the assailants had tried to throw law enforcement off the scent a few times by attempting to walk in one another's shoe tracks. But their efforts didn't deter Brent. He followed their trail for some 200 yards.