Almost Off the Grid

Except for 1000 or so Burglaries, Breakins and Thievery
Maine hermit, living in woods for 27 years, caught

ROME, Maine (AP) — Authorities say a man who lived like a hermit for decades in the woods of central Maine and may be responsible for more than 1,000 burglaries has been captured.

Police say 47-year-old Christopher Knight was arrested last week while stealing food from a camp in Rome.

Authorities on Tuesday found the campsite where they believed Knight — known as the North Pond Hermit — has lived for 27 years.

Sgt. Terry Hughes of the Maine Warden Service, who arrested Knight last Thursday as he left the camp with $280 worth of food, tells the Morning Sentinel ( ) that Knight told him he was the second human being he has spoken to since 1986.

Knight is being held on $5,000 bail at the Kennebec County jail on charges of burglary and theft.