A wanted sexual offender was found hunting rats with a homemade spear and eating them while living in a stick and tarpaulin shelter in the heart of a Louisiana swamp.

The 51-year-old Brian Schaller had an active warrant for sexual violence and breaking the requirements of the sex offenders' register. He was found guilty in 2016 of distributing child porn.

Sex Offender Found Living in Louisiana Swamp

Authorities received information leading them to an isolated spot in the Atchafalaya Basin, located to the East of Lafayette. After an extensive search, they successfully located the person in question at his encampment nestled deep within the swamp.

The suspect willingly turned himself in and informed the authorities that he had been residing there since January. He survived by using traps to catch small animals and rodents, which he then dispatched with a makeshift spear to sustain himself.

Schaller's criminal record dates back to 2015, when he faced allegations for distributing child pornography. The seriousness of his crimes was made worse by being aware that he had pending warrants from both the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office for sexual battery and other related offenses.

The search for Schaller turned more serious when officers received information about his location on March 12. A well-organized operation was quickly launched, involving officers in uniform, boats, and K-9 units, to locate him. After two days, on March 14, authorities managed to find Schaller's encampment deep within the swamp, about a mile away.

Officers surrounded the makeshift shelter and instructed Schaller to surrender. Without any objections, Schaller willingly followed the instructions and was apprehended without any additional trouble, according to WAFB 9.

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Sex Offender Survives on Rats in Swamp Hideout

Photographs of Schaller's camp released a simple construction made from cut branches and adorned with a mix of materials, such as discarded bags and tarp. Next to the shelter, a clothesline with garments offered a glimpse into Schaller's daily life in the wilderness.

Authorities defined Schaller's encampment as a clever arrangement, complete with various small game traps and a makeshift early warning system made from string and aluminum cans. Schaller confessed to investigators that he had been surviving solely by foraging for food in the wilderness since January, depending on hunting small game and rodents to sustain himself.

The capture of Schaller was made possible through the combined efforts of the US Marshals Service Middle Louisiana Fugitive Task Force, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and other participating agencies.

In the morning of March 14, a team from multiple agencies gathered for a meeting and carried out an operational briefing.

They then deployed their assets into the Sherburne Wildlife Management Area, located in the remote wilderness of the Atchafalaya Basin.

The team discovered Schaller's encampment after a one-mile trek on foot. After finding the encampment, the team quickly surrounded the structure and firmly instructed Schaller to exit and surrender. Schaller cooperated with the verbal instructions and was apprehended without any issues.

The dwelling where Schaller had been residing was built using tree limbs, tarps, and parachute cord. Schaller had a number of small game traps set up along the trails near his camp.

Schaller informed investigators that he had been surviving solely by relying on the resources of nature since around January. He mentioned sustaining himself by consuming small game and rodents.   

The MLFTF is comprised of individuals from various law enforcement agencies, including the US Marshals, Baton Rouge Police Department, East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office, West Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office, Louisiana Probation and Parole, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office. 

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