Dougherty Gang: Cross-Country Chase Trio Were Headed South of the Border

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Reuters

Authorities searched for the three siblings using this digital billboard poster

Three sibling suspects in a multi-state crime spree that ended in a shootout with Colorado cops planned to escape to Mexico, investigators have revealed.

Ryan Edward Dougherty, 21, his sister Lee Grace Dougherty, 29, and brother Dylan Stanley-Dougherty, 26, are accused of robbing a Georgia bank, shooting at cops in two states and stealing cars in Utah. The pursuit ended in an Aug. 10 high-speed chase along I-25 near Walsenburg, about 150 miles south of Denver.

(SEE: Busted: Fugitive Sibling Trio Caught Near Colorado Springs)

After firing at police, the trio eventually crashed their getaway car – leading to their arrests and the discovery of at least nine firearms in or near the vehicle. These included two AK-47-type rifles, two machine pistols, two shotguns and three handguns. All but one of the weapons was loaded.

Colorado Springs police Detective Larry Dyer revealed the latest details in the case at a court hearing Sept. 20 – in which he also said the younger brother was the brains behind the enterprise.

Dyer said that after Dougherty was sentenced to register as a sex offender following a conviction for sending sexually explicit text messages to an 11-year-old girl, he decided to mount the crime spree. “During the interview, he pretty much led me to believe that he was the mastermind of this plan,” added the detective.

(LIST: TIME’s Top 10 Bandits)

Each defendant faces five counts of attempted second-degree murder and five counts of first-degree assault. They have also been charged with vehicle theft, theft by receiving, and displaying fictitious or altered license plates. Each is being held on a $1.25 million bond and have yet to enter pleas. (via Newser)

Joe Jackson is a contributor at TIME. Find him on Twitter at @joejackson. You can also continue the discussion on TIME’s Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME.