Update: William Dathan Holbert

This is an update on William Dathan Holbert. He has been one of my biggest draws the past couple of weeks with a lot of Google traffic coming my way. I first reported on him Wednesday, February 22, 2006. Since then he has done some moving around the country and has appeared on America's Most Wanted. Friday the Star News posted this: In some circles, he’s known as an avid weight lifter and a gym owner. In others, he’s known as someone who wants to end the oppression of white Southerners. To police, he’s known as the man who sold an Oak Island house he didn’t own. Tonight, the nation will learn he is one of the country’s most-wanted fugitives. The TV show America’s Most Wanted will air a 15-second segment on William Dathan Holbert, 364 Moriah Church Road, Casar. The 26-year-old man is wanted in connection with selling an Oak Island house that did not belong to him for $200,000 . Authorities have issued an arrest warrant for forging a deed and obtaining property under a false pretense with a value of more than $100,000, Wilmington police detective Paul Verzaal has said. Both are felonies. Holbert, who uses different aliases, is believed to be traveling around the country with his girlfriend, authorities said. That’s why the U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force in Wilmington decided to turn to the media for help. “We have a lot of different tools at our disposal to try to catch somebody,” said Dan Wertheimer, deputy U.S. marshal in charge of the Wilmington task force. “In this particular instance, we just need the media.” It all started with a house – now gutted – that belonged to 75-year-old Joan Herron, who lives in Denver, N.C. Unbeknownst to her, her house at 1004 W. Dolphin Drive was sold to an investor for more than $200,000 in October. In the process, Herron, who is widowed, lost all the belongings she and her husband used to store in their summer home, police said. Meanwhile, police believe Holbert deposited the money from the sale into a bank account. When he began withdrawing large sums of cash – just less than the $10,000 that would have to be reported to the Internal Revenue Service – the bank contacted police. Wilmington police became involved in the case because the home sale closing occurred here. When police began to retrace Holbert’s steps, they discovered he obtained a false North Carolina driver’s license with the name Luke Gregory Kuhn, which he used to open a bank account, police have said. They also believe he forged the deed on the house. Holbert indicated to the investor that he was a doctor who needed to sell the home that belonged to his godparents because he needed to leave town and go to Alaska, according to the task force. In addition to buying the home, the investor spent $40,000 to remodel it. The $200,000 he spent to buy the house was covered by title insurance, police have said. Holbert used the money from the sale of the house to buy a home in Kentucky, vacation in Ireland and travel the southwestern part of the country before returning to Kentucky, according to the task force. One of the most recent sightings of the couple was in Wyoming, where they fled from authorities in a high-speed pursuit, according to the task force. Wertheimer, who said he has a good relationship with the producers of America’s Most Wanted, is hopeful the spot will yield tips that will lead to Holbert’s and his girlfriend’s arrests. “What he did in our area might not seem that big,” Wertheimer said. “But if you put all these things together … .” The show airs at 9 tonight on Fox. In the extended section is a list of accusations against William, that can be found at the same link. ACCUSATIONS AGAINST WILLIAM HOLBERT April 2005: William Holbert and his girlfriend, both avid weight lifters, opened a business called Southern National Patriots in Forest City that promoted white separatist views. Holbert held meetings in his store, sharing his views on the destruction of Southern white culture. He said he wanted to end the oppression of white Southerners. Summer 2005: Holbert came to the Wilmington area during the summer and began a scam to sell a house on Oak Island. He used a fake name – Luke Gregory Kuhn – to get a North Carolina driver’s license. Aug. 12, 2005: Holbert used the name Kuhn to steal a Ford truck. He changed the vehicle identification number and sold it in Pondera County, Mont. Warrants for his arrest were issued Sept. 9 for felony deceptive practices. Oct. 4, 2005: Holbert sold the Oak Island home for more than $200,000. Oct. 31, 2005: Holbert started using a new alias of Donald Lee Bruckart and obtained a false Kentucky driver’s license. His girlfriend, Laura Michelle Reese, began using the alias Laura Bruckart. Holbert and his girlfriend bought a house in Louisa, Ky., with the $200,000. December 2005: Holbert and Reese traveled to Ireland, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and back to Kentucky. January 2006: The couple planned to open a gym called Big Sandy Fitness. Jan. 20, 2006: The Wilmington Police Department issued a warrant for Holbert’s arrest for obtaining property by false pretense over $100,000. The U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force in Wilmington got the case. Feb. 3 or 4, 2006: Holbert and Reese leave Louisa, Ky., telling neighbors a family member died and they will be gone for an unknown amount of time. Feb. 5, 2006: Holbert and Reese are stopped for speeding by a highway patrol officer in Sheridan County, Wyo. They tell the officer they’re heading to Seattle, Wash., and Holbert shows his Kentucky license. When the officer runs his alias in the system, it shows that he’s wanted in North Carolina and Montana. While the officer is trying to arrest Holbert, he escapes and a high-speed chase begins. Holbert loses the officer and dumps the wrecked vehicle in a field. Feb. 7, 2006: Authorities suspect that Holbert and Reese stole a 14-foot U-Haul truck from Bismarck, N.D. March 6, 2006: Police find the U-Haul truck abandoned in North Palm Beach, Fla. Source: The U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force in Wilmington