Pittsburgh Armored Truck Heist Suspect Caught With Loot In Pompano Beach
POMPANO BEACH (CBSMiami) - The armored car guard charged with killing his partner and making off with millions in cash in a Pittsburgh robbery was arrested in Pompano Beach early Tuesday, apparently the victim of bragging about his crime to others who ratted him out.
Members of the South Florida FBI Violent Crimes task force took Ken Konias into custody without incident Tuesday morning, recovering up to $1.5 million in stolen cash and two guns, one of which is believed to be the service weapon he allegedly used to kill his partner as part of the scheme.
Investigators said Konias admitted who he was when he was arrested and cooperated with police, telling them where the money was located and giving up his weapons. Before is capture, Konias had eluded police for seven weeks despite billboards and even a story on America's Most Wanted.
"We also considered that he may have took his own life because of what he did and what he got himself involved in," said Pittsburgh Detective Peg Sherwoood.
Konias was arrested and taken to federal court, where in his first appearance Tuesday he appeared, bound and looking tired, and waived his right to a detention hearing. This mean he will likely be returned to the Pittsburgh area for his arraignment.
Konias indicated he would be represented in Pennsylvania by high-powered defense attorney Charles R.LoPresti
At a Pittsburgh news conference investigators said they got their break when someone called the Pittsburgh police department Monday night and said Konias could be found at a home on SW 8th street in Pompano Beach.
Investigators said he had driven to Florida from Pittsburgh some time after the robbery, after leaving about a quarter-million dollars from the robbery at a gravesite and his parents home. That money, investigators said, was recovered.
It was after arriving in South Florida that Konias apparently made his major mistake.
"He encountered several individuals he confided in regarding his criminal activity in the Pittsburgh area," Michael Rodriguez with the FBI in Pittsburgh, which resulted in the tip that led to his arrest.
Initial reports said the arrest was made in a "crackhouse", but investigators said "There's not a case where anyone was using drugs inside the residence right now, but we're still looking into it."
Konias, who was featured in a March episode of "America's Most Wanted," allegedly shot his partner Michael Haines in the back of the head while inside the back of the armored truck they operated together for Garda Cash Logistics.
The murder and theft took place Feb. 28th and Konias has been the target of a nationwide manhunt ever since.
The Garda Company, operators of the armored car to which Konias was assigned, offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to Konias arrest.
Investigators said it's still too early to talk about who, if anyone, will qualify for that reward.
