1998 Vail arson attacks explained

On the morning of October 19, 1998, a group of people part of the Earth Liberation Front set fire to several lifts and buildings at Vail Ski Resort.^[1] This was one of the most serious ecotage attacks in the history of the United States, causing $12 million in damages, which caught the attention of the nation.^[2] The fires were set at Two Elk Lodge, and destroyed multiple buildings on Vail Mountain, including Two Elk Restaurant.^[3] In 2006, Chelsea Dawn Gerlach and Stanislas Gregory Meyerhoff both pleaded guilty to the attacks.^[4]

In August 2018, suspect Joseph Dibee, on the run for 12 years, was en route to Russia when he was apprehended in Cuba, then returned to the United States.^{[5] [6] [7]} Josephine Sunshine Overaker, believed to have fled to Europe in 2001, remains at large and is wanted by the FBI.^[8]

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2 plead guilty in 1998 arson of Vail ski resort; attack caused $12M in damage . USA Today . 14 December 2006 . 30 March 2016.
2. Web site: FOX Facts: Vail Firebombing Attack Timeline . FoxNews.com . 19 May 2006 . 30 March 2016.
3. Web site: Two Elk: Running the ridge, setting fires . Vail Daily . 9 May 2007 . 30 March 2016 . Stoner, Edward.
4. Web site: Guilty pleas unveil the tale of eco-arson on Vail summit . Denver Post . 15 December 2006 . 30 March 2016 . Lipsher, Steve.
5. Web site: Domestic Terrorism . Federal Bureau of Investigation . 11 August 2018 . en-us.
6. Web site: Nicolaisen . Kirsten . Fugitive in 'largest ecoterroism investigation in US history' caught after 12 yrs at large . KATU . 10 August 2018 . 11 August 2018.
7. Web site: Nicholson . Kieran . Suspect in 1998 eco-terror arson in Vail arrested in Cuba boarding flight to Russia . The Denver Post . 11 August 2018 . 10 August 2018.
8. Web site: Josephine Sunshine Overaker.