Authorities in northeastern Pennsylvania have shifted and narrowed their search for an accused cop-killer in recent days, but the fugitive has still eluded their grasp. A woman who recently moved to Meridian from Pennsylvania has worried about her family and friends back home.

    On Sept. 12, Pennsylvania State Police Cpl. Bryon Dickson was shot and killed outside Pennsylvania State Police barracks in Blooming Grove. Trooper Alex Douglass was also shot and injured in the same shooting incident.

    On Sept. 16, State Police identified the suspect as Eric Matthew Frein, 31, of Canadensis, Pa.

    Sheri Telish, who moved to Meridian from Monroe County, Pa. about six months ago, said her husband works in an area that is close to Mount Pocono, which is part of the Pocono Mountains. Telish said with Frein’s reputation as an outdoorsman, it is not surprising that he has been able to evade capture by heading to the woods.

    “He is very well known for being a survivalist. He is very familiar with the woods so he could survive out there,” Telish said.

    Because the Pocono Mountains are home to many vacation homes, Telish said, there are a lot of vacant houses this time of year. In addition, people often leave their hunting weapons at their cabins, especially those who live in neighboring states that have stricter gun laws, she said. Residents worry that Frein may take advantage of empty cabins.

    Telish’s main concern is for her family and friends who live nearby.

    “I have a lot of friends who work in New Jersey but live in Pennsylvania, in The Poconos,” Telish said. “Their nerves are frayed. They are all just on edge.”

    A lot of the search has focused in the Mount Pocono, Canadensis, and Camelback areas. Telish’s husband works in Tannersville, which she said is on the back side of Camelback, close to Mount Pocono.

    “Just the fact that he is on the back side of those mountains and we don’t know where Frein is, it puts everybody on high alert. It really does,” Telish said. “Even though they may be searching this area over here, there’s no guarantee that that is where he is.”

    Telish said authorities have — at different times — ordered what is referred to as a shelter in place. That order means that a person must go inside, take with them their children, any outdoor pets and stay away from windows and doors until further notice. People in stores are also ordered to stay in place until the order is lifted.

    Telish said everyone is also concerned about the safety of the officers who are searching for Frein, who is said to have a grudge against law enforcement.

    “You have a hundred or more law enforcement officers out there, walking through those mountains and they don’t know where he’s at, but they are open targets. They put their lives on the lines every time they put that uniform on and go to work,”  Telish said. “They are there to protect us. My dad was a cop almost all of his life and I couldn’t imagine what it would have been like to get that phone call that he’s not coming home. My heart breaks for Officer Brian Dickson, his two little boys and his wife.”