09/04/2002

By kgw.com and AP Staff

U.S. Marshals arrested fugitive Russell John Smith near Roseburg in southern Oregon Wednesday morning, a half mile from where a car belonging to him was found.

The Douglas County sheriff's office said the 1997 Nissan Pathfinder belongs to Smith, 37, formerly of Woodbridge, Va.

Woodbridge was recently featured on "America's Most Wanted" TV show. According to police reports, Smith is wanted in Virginia for allegedly involving a 12-year-old girl in satanic rituals that included having sex.

Russell John Smith in this AMW Photo.

Police reports say Smith is suspected of involving his daughter, Tara Jenine Swiger-Smith, 12, in satanic rituals, but it has not been revealed if Smith's daughter was the same 12-year-old girl mentioned in police reports.

Smith was arrested about 11:15 a.m. about a half-mile north of where his red Pathfinder was found. Smith's daughter was with him at the time of the arrest. The two were apparently staying at a remote campground in the Roseburg area, said U.S. Marshals' spokesman Eric Wahlstrom.

The marshals and Douglas County deputies will search the campground and surrounding area Tuesday afternoon.

Smith was a corrections employee at the Prince William County Jail in Virginia when he became a suspect earlier this year. When police searched the basement of his home, they found a satanic ritual room with black candles, robes, satanic symbols and a goat's head, according to the "America's Most Wanted" Web site.

Smith quit his job at the jail on Aug. 14. Both he and his daughter were reported missing by his girlfriend three days later.

His last known location before Tuesday was Redwood City, Calif.

Smith is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall and about 170 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He has a tattoo of a pentagram on his right forearm and a military tattoo on his upper right arm.

Swiger-Smith is described as 5 feet tall and 110 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes.

Smith is believed to be armed and is considered dangerous.