BLOOMING GROVE TOWNSHIP -- Authorities named Eric Frein a suspect in the deadly shooting of a state trooper after his Jeep was found in a retention pond by a man walking in the woods.
Inside the Jeep, police found identification and shell casings from the rifle they believe was used in the ambush.
We talked with the man who found the vehicle.
Jim Novak has been following the search for Eric Frein closely, knowing he's the reason police connected Frein to the killing of a state trooper.
Novak lives about two miles from the Blooming Grove barracks. He just wanted to help when he went in the woods looking for evidence and what he found was vital to this case.
Novak says he wasn't just out walking his dog last Monday. That's what state police said, describing how he found Eric Frein's Jeep. He says he was looking for evidence.
Novak lives two miles from the Blooming Grove barracks. He was devastated hearing a trooper was shot and killed there.
The Vietnam veteran wanted to help so he headed into the woods behind his house, and had quite a find when he got to a retention pond.
"I spotted it when I was over there and it was just sitting there," Novak said.
A dirt path led from a housing development to this retention pond and down an embankment. Novak saw the Jeep stuck in some swampy water with the door still open.
"I thought possibly it was maybe some kids put a piece of junk in there and that's why I didn't want to call the police right away."
So he waded into that mucky water to get a closer look.
"When I saw the gun case, I thought, you know, that's a nice time to leave," Novak said with a laugh.
Inside police found Frein's driver's license, social security card, and more. State police said it connected Frein to the killing.
Troopers say a search of the area near the Jeep led them to Frein's AK-47 and ammunition.
Novak was wounded in Vietnam and worked as a corrections officer. He says he is certainly happy he could help.
"When you actually shoot someone and kill somebody, a trooper or conservation officer, federal agents, you attack all of us, because those are the guys that watch us."
Novak struggles thinking about the killing of Cpl. Bryon Dickson and the loss for his wife and boys.
Novak walked out of the woods last week and let police do the rest.
"They wouldn't let me trot around with them, not that I would have minded," he said. "If they wanted me to go, I would go.
Jim Novak isn't looking for any credit for his discovery. He just wants to see Eric Frein caught nd if he helped make that happen, he's glad he could do his part.