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April 11th, 2013 
Peter Nolan
“Everything he owned except for his eyeglasses was stolen,” said
Stephen McCausland, a spokesman with the Maine State Police.
Mr Knight told the officers who arrested him that he had spoken with only one
other person – a lone hiker – during his years of solitude.
The man survived the brutal winters of central Maine, where winter overnight
temperatures can drop well below freezing, by sleeping in multiple sleeping
bags inside a tent that was covered with a tarp.
He appeared neatly groomed and clean-shaven in a police booking photo. Police
also released photos of Mr Knight, wearing a cap and jacket, carrying a
large plastic bag inside a walk-in cooler at the Pine Tree Camp where he was
apprehended.
Mr Knight had built himself a large camp in the woods near North Pond, his
tent covered by a tarp that was carefully tied to the surrounding trees,
evidently to provide some shelter from the elements, according to photos
released by police. He had painted garbage cans in camouflage patterns,
covered shiny tools and made other efforts to conceal his presence, police
said.
Mr McCausland said Mr Knight offered police no reason for his decision to go
into the woods. The Chernobyl accident was the last major event he
remembered before beginning his hermitage, he told police, but the nuclear
accident had not prompted his decision.
Mr Knight has been charged with one count of burglary so far, but additional
charges are likely to follow.
His presence was long suspected by local residents and camp operators from
whom he had stolen, according to local media.
Edited by Bonnie Malkin
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