Manhunt for accused trooper killer cost PA $11M

WILKES-BARRE, Pa., Nov. 14 (UPI) -- It cost the Pennsylvania State Police more than $11 million to find Eric Frein, the man who allegedly led law enforcement on a 48-day manhunt after the shooting death of a trooper.

Frein is accused of shooting to death Pennsylvania State Police Cpl. Bryon Dickson and seriously injuring Trooper Alex Douglass in an ambush Sept. 12.

He allegedly fled and hid out in rural Pennsylvania for more than a month before he was discovered Oct. 30 in the Pocono Mountains.

The 48 days Frein was allegedly on the run cost state police some serious money, to the tune of about $6.9 million in overtime alone.

In addition to overtime salaries, the department spent $3 million on benefits, $657,000 on standard salaries, $66,000 in travel costs, and nearly $200,000 on inventory and operational expenses.

Those expenses don't include what other agencies like the FBI and U.S. Marshalls spent on the search.

Frein was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and two counts of terrorism. He faces the death penalty.