Profile

Name: Mark William Samples
Sex: Male
Race: White
Age Now: 45
Height: 6'0\"
Weight: 225 lbs.
Hair (Color, Description, Facial Hair): Brown\rUsually wears a mustache and sometimes a beard
Eyes (Color and Correction): Hazel
Other Physical Characteristics: Has a scar on his back\rWears size 12 shoes\rHas told family members that he wants to commit suicide\rAuthorities say he is in possession of handguns and rifles\rHas taken Prozac, Interferon and other medication for Hepatitis C\rMedication makes him nauseated and tired\rHad an apprenticeship to become an electrician\rAlso worked as a phlebotomist, and is interested in veins and will talk about veins frequently\rHas worked as a life guard\rDescribed as a perfectionist; everything has to be perfectly straight and clean\rShaves with an electric razor, never a blade\rWhen he brushes his hair, he does so very harshly to the point where his scalp will become raw\rDoesn't cook, prefers to eat out, usually at Perkins or Burger King. Also likes sushi\rLikes to camp, mountain-climb or anything outdoorsy and thrilling\rLikes football; the Green Bay Packers are his favorite team\rWatches the Weather Channel often\rKnowledgeable about computers and the internet, probably has a laptop with him\rDoesn't do drugs, but drinks Corona Beer\rHis weight fluctuates widely
Wanted for: Armed robbery, Red Wing, MN; May 03, 2001

Locations

Last seen: Unkown
Possible location: Indianapolis, IN West Virginia Wisconsin Minnesota
Last known: Unkown

Traits

Case Story

From Military Hero To Bank Robber

On May 3, 2001, Mark Samples, armed with a .45 caliber handgun, entered a Red Wing, Minnesota, Credit Union and robbed it. But his getaway was far from ordinary.  After robbing the bank, Samples got away on a bicycle. He rode the bike down an enbankment, where he lost control; money and his handgun went flying.  Now on foot, Samples made his way to the banks of the Mississippi where he'd stashed SCUBA equipment.  He donned the gear and dove into the water.  Wading downstream for hours, Samples waited until the coast was clear before making it back to shore, where he'd left his car.  Then he drove home, figuring the coast was clear.

Blaming it on Iraq

Agents tracked the dropped handgun to Samples, and he was arrested.  He pled guilty, but said he had an excuse. In 1987, an Iraqi Exocet missile hit the USS Stark on patrol in the Persian Gulf.  Mark Samples was a gunner's mate aboard the ship.  For hours, Samples sprayed down the ship's missiles, which laid perilously close to the fire caused by the explosion.  Because of his actions, Samples received a medal for his heroism.  As years past, it became apparent that Mark Samples still felt the effects of that day. He was eventually diagnosed with Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder. Samples claimed the medication he took for the PTSD caused him to rob the bank.

The Robber Hits The Road

When Samples learned that his guilty plea would result in a five-year prison sentence, he withdrew the plea and decided to take his chances with a jury. A September 4, 2002 trial date was set. On Friday, May 31, 2002, Samples picked up his son Christopher from the home of his estranged wife, Jennifer Bjork. The two shared custody of the child.  Samples agreed to return him on Sunday morning in time for church. But he never did. Mark Samples had gone on the run -- and taken Christopher with him.