It has been the talk of the Poconos, and at times the nation, for the past 16 days: The ambushing of state police officers at a remote barracks in Pike County and the subsequent massive manhunt for Eric Frein after police identified him as the shooter.

It has been the talk of the Poconos, and at times the nation, for the past 16 days: The ambushing of state police officers at a remote barracks in Pike County and the subsequent massive manhunt for Eric Frein after police identified him as the shooter.



As of 10 p.m. Saturday, Frein, 31, of Canadensis, is still on the loose, and the search has not only brought national attention to the Poconos, but disrupted the lives of many, but mostly those living in Price and Barrett townships, where the search has been centered for more than a week.



It also has brought a sea of law enforcement into the area, with a state police official saying that up to 1,000 personnel have been used to find Frein.



After more than two weeks of tips, searches and rumors, here's a day-by-day capsule of the events in the shooting death of Cpl. Bryon Dickson and the wounding of Trooper Alex Douglass, who, as of Friday afternoon, was still in the hospital but recovering, according to state police.



Friday, Sept. 12: Two troopers are ambushed outside Blooming Grove state police barracks during late-night shift change, killing one and seriously wounding another. Dead is Cpl. Bryon Dickson of Dunmore, who was leaving the barracks to go home. Wounded is Trooper Alex Douglass, arriving to begin his shift, who later undergoes emergency surgery.



Saturday, Sept. 13: "Our troopers were shot without warning and really had no chance to defend themselves," Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan says. Officers across the region, including New York and New Jersey, come to Poconos to help search heavily wooded area surrounding the barracks, including state game lands. Route 402 is closed between Interstate 84 and Route 6 for search. A $20,000 reward is offered for information leading to capture of the person responsible.

Sunday, Sept. 14: State police stop motorists along roads near the Blooming Grove barracks, asking if anyone had seen anything unusual that night. Hundreds of state troopers work with FBI agents, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and several state and local law enforcement agencies. Blooming Grove barracks remains a crime scene, with public access restricted.



Monday, Sept. 15: Police profile the shooter as a local person with ongoing grudge against law enforcement and/or the government, and experience with firearms.



First major break in case: A resident of the Blue Heron development calls police about 8:30 p.m., says he saw partially submerged green Jeep in a retention pond about 2 miles from shooting scene. The vehicle is registered to parents of Eric Frein of Canadensis, but used by the accused shooter. Cartridge casings are found in vehicle that police say match ones recovered from shooting. Frein's Social Security card, driver's license, state Game Commission range gun permit, military gear and information on foreign embassies are also recovered.



Police obtain a second search warrant, this one of the parents' home, where Frein lives. They recover more shell casings for a similar rifle, and a U.S. Army special forces training manual for "Sniper Training and Employment."



Reward for information is raised to $75,000. Blooming Grove barracks is being used as command post solely for investigation of the shooting. Police also use Blooming Grove Baptist Church, just down Route 402 from the barracks, as a staging area. Gov. Tom Corbett tours the barracks, calls the shooting a cowardly act.

Tuesday, Sept. 16: Shooting suspect is identified publicly as Frein, who lives with his parents in Canadensis, about 20 miles from Blooming Grove barracks. Frein is said to be armed with a high-powered rifle, described by family as excellent marksman who "doesn't miss." Police say Frein — who was on the rifle team at Pocono Mountain High School — is an extreme survivalist who has expressed desire to kill law enforcement and commit mass murder. More than 200 officers search the thickly wooded area around the barracks and his home. "We have no idea where he is," Commissioner Noonan says.



Wednesday, Sept. 17: Around-the-clock manhunt continues for Frein, aided by dogs, helicopters and armored vehicles. Schools, libraries and some businesses in Pike and Monroe counties are closed for public safety. Police say Frein has had grudge against law enforcement and the government since at least 2006, and belongs to a military simulation unit based in eastern Pennsylvania in which participants assume the role of soldiers from eastern European countries.



"... Frein now appears to have assumed that role in real life," a state police spokesman says. The public is warned to stay out of the woods where police are searching, lock doors and inspect garages and outbuildings. False sightings of Frein are reported throughout the region.



Thursday, Sept. 18: Hundreds of law officers pay tribute to slain state police Cpl. Bryon Dickson during his funeral in Scranton.



Many Barrett Township residents are unable to reach their homes until nearly 10 p.m., as the massive search that evening centers near Frein's parents' home off Route 447.



A Pocono Township cruiser crashes in chain-reaction wreck in Paradise Township as police from several jurisdictions rush to the Barrett location.

FBI adds Frein to its Ten Most Wanted list, releasing federal resources to the apprehension effort. FBI offers $100,000 reward, in addition to $75,000 offered by Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers.



Wallenpaupack and Pocono Mountain schools remain closed for the week. Several scholastic sports events moved from evening to daylight hours.



Friday, Sept. 19: Police continue to methodically search tens of thousands of acres of forest — including cabins, campsites and vacation homes — eliminating potential hiding places as they move. Residents are asked to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious, resulting in the arrest of Pike County man on unrelated burglary charges.



A "shelter-in-place" order is put into effect for residents near the search area.



Saturday, Sept. 20: State police lift a shelter-in-place order for Barrett and Price townships. Residents continue to be urged to use extreme caution, lock doors, and not enter the woods. Police continue to try to flush Frein out of the woods. The Monroe manhunt includes an intensive search around Blue Ridge Drive. Family members are separated by road closures. Emergency responders and police set up an evacuation center for residents at the Barrett Township firehouse.

Sunday, Sept. 21: Police announce they have found an AK-47 assault rifle, believed to be Frein's, hanging on a tree in the woods near where they found his abandoned Jeep. Frein had talked for years about killing police or committing mass murder, but no one took the threats seriously, police say. Authorities believe he may have been planning the assault for months, if not years.



Monday, Sept. 22: Unconfirmed sightings of Frein continue as police comb the woods. The search focus narrows near Canadensis along the Pike/Monroe border. "I do believe we are close to him at this point," state police Lt. Col. George Bivens says.



Police scanner transmissions remind officers when lethal force is allowed to bring down a suspect who refuses to surrender. State police tell media they remain committed to a peaceful apprehension.



East Stroudsburg schools reopen while Pocono Mountain schools close for the fourth straight day, out of safety concerns. Monsignor McHugh School is also closed.



A blockade near Snow Hill Road separates family members trying to get back to their homes.



Gov. Corbett makes a second appearance in Blooming Grove since the manhunt began, thanks officers and is briefed on the search status.

Tuesday, Sept. 23: An armored tactical vehicle outfitted with robotic video cameras, able to hoist officers safely to the second story of buildings, is brought to the scene.



NBC Today airs footage from upcoming an documentary about Vietnam War re-enactors featuring a Frein interview. Frein talks about the difficult terrain of one re-enactment site, explains the role of the event in "teaching the public" about the history of the war and the equipment used.



Pocono Mountain schools reopen after being closed for nearly a week. Still no bus service for Barrett Township residents.



Wednesday, Sept. 24: State police hold a press conference and say they have found items Frein has left behind, including Bosnian cigarettes and soiled diapers. Police say they have spotted Frein, but have not seen him in the last 24 hours.



A group of Barrett Township residents hangs hundreds of blue ribbons in support of police hunting for Frein. Groups, individuals and businesses continue to donate food for law officers and others involved in the search, who are fed at the Barrett firehouse.

Thursday, Sept. 25: Police continue to search for Frein, but the hottest topic of the day is the fact that the suspect uses diapers to remain still as he hides from police. One media outlet dubs him the "Diaper Sniper," and the name quickly sticks, putting a chink in the image of this Rambo-like suspect who magically eludes police.



Friday, Sept. 26: State police Lt. Col. George Bivens, the commander of operations for state police, critizes some media outlets in a press conference for printing rumors.



Bivens, speaking directly about an unfounded report of an affair between Douglass and Frein's sister-in-law, called the reports dead wrong, saying the two don't even know each other.



He called the reports reckless and said they are not helping the investigation.



Bivens said that Frein has not been spotted in more than 72 hours.



Friday morning, state police searched the abandoned and historic Inn at Buck Hill Falls, going room-by-room through the huge building to make sure Frein was not hiding there.

Saturday, Sept. 27: It was pretty quiet in the search. A Record reporter drove in the area and reported seeing state police, but hardly a beehive of activity like there was earlier in the week.