Fundraiser helps guitarist attacked while skiing in Wash.
10:58 AM PDT on Monday, March 9, 2009
By kgw.com
WASHOUGAL, Wash. -- Members of the local music industry came together over the weekend to raise money for a guitarist who was beaten, robbed and left for dead during a cross-country ski outing near Washougal.
The suspects in the violent attack that almost killed Kevin Tracey are still on the loose.
Police say 33-year-old Michael Collins and 16-year-old Teven Collins beat Tracey with a wooden club, dragged his body into the woods and stole his black Ford Explorer and wallet at a campground in the Gorge on February 9.
Tracey has taught guitar for 20 years in the Vancouver area and also plays in countless gigs around town, so he is well known in the local music scene. Now, with help from his friends and even many kind strangers, Tracey is getting back on his feet, even though he was severely injured in the attack and does not have health insurance.
“I feel wonderful, just the outpouring of support is so overwhelming, it's amazing,” he told KGW Sunday night.
How you can help:
An account has been set up in Kevin Tracey's name. Contact Bank of America if you'd like to donate.
Meantime, the mother of the teen suspected in the attack said she fears for her son's safety and hopes he will break away from his father and turn himself in.
A West Coast manhunt continues for the father and son, both from the Vancouver area. Deputies believe they may have traveled out of Oregon and are somewhere in the Southwest.
The teen suspect's mother, Anna Logan, expressed her sympathy for the ordeal endured by Tracey, and worried for her son.
"We are in fear of Mike involving Teven in anything else," Logan wrote. "We believe Teven's life would become forfeit if he became a liability or angered Mike in any way."
Logan wrote that she hoped Teven would break away from his dad and urged him to turn himself in to authorities. More: Anna Logan's statement
Feds track movement of father and son
Tracey's vehicle, checkbook, wallet and several credit cards were stolen in the attack, according to Skamania County authorities. Court records suggest the pair used Tracey's Visa card in Washington, Madras, Ore., and Lathrop, Calif.
Police believe the suspects may also be traveling in Tracey’s 1998 black Ford Explorer SUV. The vehicle had Washington registration and plates at the time it was carjacked. The plate numbers were 455-YHY.
Michael Collins is a sex offender with an outstanding arrest warrant for failing to meet his requirements to register. Police consider the suspects armed and dangerous.
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