“Bushman of the Shuswap” passes away
WILLIAMS LAKE — A fugitive who evaded police as the “Bushman of the Shuswap” and later loved playing Santa and ran for mayor in his hometown of Williams Lake, B.C., has died.
John Bjornstrom’s death came suddenly on Jan. 13 at age 58, according to an obituary in the Williams Lake Tribune. A celebration of life will be held on Sunday.
Bjornstrom escaped from jail in Kamloops and was on the lam for two years before being captured in November 2001 after a massive manhunt.
He survived by stealing food and property from dozens of cabins in the woods around Shuswap Lake, where he repeatedly eluded the RCMP but spoke with several media outlets about his underground encampment.