Olympia murder suspect taken into custody after manhunt in Bucoda on Thursday

The Olympia Police Department and the Thurston County Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force arrested Steven Messex on Aug. 1 in connection with the fatal shooting of Savannah M. Feiler.

Sheriff Derek Sanders posted on his social media Thursday afternoon that a manhunt was underway in the 19300 block of State Route 507 in Bucoda. Messex had been identified as a suspect in the murder of Feiler nearly two weeks ago, and Olympia police this week offered a monetary reward to anyone with information about Messex’s whereabouts.

Feiler was shot to death on July 20 near Percival Creek on Olympia’s west side.

SR 507 was shut down for a few hours during the manhunt. Sanders said Messex fled on foot and a subsequent K9 track was not successful.

Sanders said there were no air support systems available in the western half of the state, so a helicopter from Homeland Security assisted. He said deputies, officers, and SWAT team operators were preparing for a multi-day manhunt until the suspect was found.

Messex was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree.