James "Bo" Gritz -- a decorated Green Beret colonel,anti-government presidential candidate and self-appointed negotiatorfor America's most wanted extremists -- is parachuting into themiddle of another high-profile fugitive situation.
Gritz -- the Christian Patriot militia leader who persuadedsurvivalist Randy Weaver to abandon Ruby Ridge in 1992, but failedto get the Montana Freemen to leave their compound in 1996 -- isheading to Andrews, N.C., to urge bombing suspect Eric RobertRudolph to surrender to the FBI. Gritz plans to bring along Weaveras well as a unit of paramilitary volunteers.
Rudolph, a part-time carpenter who has been charged in thebombing of a Birmingham, Ala., abortion clinic that killed anoff-duty police officer, is also wanted for questioning in threeAtlanta bombings, including the deadly 1996 explosion in CentennialOlympic Park.
When Gritz arrives in Andrews on Friday, finding Rudolph willbe his first mediation challenge. Authorities believe Rudolph ishiding somewhere in the rugged western North Carolina mountains butdo not know where. They also believe he is well-armed and dangerous,and have asked members of the public -- including Gritz -- not tohunt for him.
But the Southeast Bomb Task Force did ask Gritz to make anappeal on his short-wave radio show for Rudolph's surrender, becauseRudolph "is aware of the show," a task force spokeswoman said. Onthe show and over the Internet, Gritz has promised to provideRudolph with physical and legal protection if he turns himself in,and has offered to turn the government's $1 million reward over toRudolph's mother for his legal defense.
Gritz has also said that local residents who mistrust thegovernment are feeding him information about Rudolph's possiblewhereabouts, and he has appealed for volunteers to help him lure thesuspect out of his mountain hideaway. Rudolph, who the FBI put onits most-wanted list in May, was spotted in the area on July 7, whenhe emerged from the woods and allegedly stole an old pickup truck.But fears of ambushes and booby traps have made the manhuntexcruciatingly slow.
"Eric's mom recently expressed fears that her son will be shoton sight. I share her concern," Gritz said in his Internetstatement. "It's time to thwart those with blood money in their eyeand save Eric Rudolph!"
John DeCamp, a former Nebraska state senator who hasrepresented the Freemen and other militias, told Gritz he is willingto monitor Rudolph's surrender and serve as Rudolph's attorney. ButDeCamp said he will not get involved without a go-ahead from theFBI, which he does not have.
"If this character wants to give himself up, he should be ableto give himself up without getting his head blown off," DeCamp said."I told Bo I'm willing to help make this happen, but only if it'sall right with the feds. I don't want to get my head blown off,either."
The FBI and the other agencies participating in the task forcehave mixed feelings about Gritz's arrival in Andrews, where he onceconducted "special preparedness training" for 100 would-besurvivalists. They know he helped convince Weaver to end thestandoff at Ruby Ridge, and they believe Rudolph also subscribes toGritz's unorthodox views. But most federal agents disapprove ofGritz and they resented his blustery self-promotion during theFreemen standoff -- which they eventually resolved without his help.
"Mr. Gritz is coming of his own accord," said CelestineArmstead, a spokeswoman for the task force. "We're not going to beopposed to any message he sends telling Eric Rudolph to come out ofthe woods. But I would point out that we have discouragedindividuals and bounty hunters from searching for this dangerousindividual. That's a law enforcement function."
On his radio show, Gritz has vowed to track Rudolph down and"save him" from harm. In the Andrews area, though, no one knowswhether Gritz can succeed where the authorities have failed.
"I don't think anyone knows if Eric will get Bo's messages, orif he'll turn himself in if he does," said Preston Gulledge, who ishandling arrangements for Gritz in Andrews. "Only the Lord knows."
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