Barefoot Bandit: His life and crimes

In this courtroom sketch, Colton Harris-Moore, second from right, is shown next to his attorney, John Henry Browne, right, as they appear before Judge Richard Jones, second from left, and assistant U.S. Attorney Darwin Roberts, left, in federal court, June 17, 2011, in Seattle. Harris-Moore, known as the "Barefoot Bandit," pleaded guilty to seven charges stemming from a multi-state crime spree that included the thefts of several airplanes and boats.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: AP Photo/Peter Millett

Colton Harris-Moore was born on March 22, 1991. His babysitter told "48 Hours" his mother, Pam, was "too good" a mom.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: Jacquie Staggs

Colton, suspected of teaching himself to fly and stealing five planes by the age of 19, was into airplanes from a early age. Friends say it was all he talked about in elementary school. His mother, Pam Kohler, told "48 Hours" he wore out his first airplane ID book and had to find another.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: Jacquie Staggs

A young Colton Harris-Moore.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: Pam Kohler

As seen by his drawings, Colton was into airplanes from an early age. "He mentioned that he wanted to be a pilot," a classmate told "48 Hours." "When we heard he was stealing planes, I was like, well, that kinda makes sense."

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: Pam Kohler

Colton was into airplanes from an early age. This is one of his drawings.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: Pam Kohler

Colton was into airplanes from an early age. Another of his airplane sketches.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: Pam Kohler

By the time Colton Harris-Moore he was 14, court records showed a dozen calls to child protective services.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: Pam Kohler

Colton Harris-Moore with his dog, "Melenie."

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: Pam Kohler

Colton was in trouble with the law from an early age. The first incident report dates from when he was just 10 years old.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

The trailer on Camano Island, Wash., where Colton grew up and where his mother, Pam Kohler, still lives.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: CBS

The trailer where Colton grew up and where his mother, Pam Kohler, still lives.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: CBS

A mug shot of Gordon Moore, Colton's father. Sources say Moore has been mostly out of Colton's life since Colton was little.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

In 2007, Colton Harris-Moore was arrested and faced 23 felony charges for burglaries and possession of stolen property, as well as identity theft charges for stolen credit cards and fraudulent online orders. He pleaded to three counts and was sentenced to three years in a juvenile facility.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Many people will say that since most of Colton's crimes were property crimes, they were "victimless." This letter, written by a homeowner on Camano Island, Wash. proves otherwise.

Read the homeowner's letter
48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Colton Harris-Moore's mother, Pam Kohler, wrote this letter to the court when he was arrested in 2007.

Read the letter
48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Colton's aunt wrote this letter to the court at the same time.

Read the letter
48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Colton made his mother this Mother's Day card when he was in juvenile detention in 2007.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: Pam Kohler

A snapshot of Colton Harris-Moore and his mother, Pam Kohler, taken in 2007, during her visit to the juvenile detention center near Seattle.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: Pam Kohler

Colton Harris-Moore with his mother, Pam Kohler, during her visit to a juvenile detention center in 2007. He was sentenced to three years, but in April 2008, he escaped by climbing out a window - beginning his two-year run from authorities.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: Pam Kohler

A tree house on Camano Island, Wash. The house nearby was broken into eight times, mostly just thefts of food. The homeowner found piles of food wrappers at this tree house. She thinks Colton was staying there during the winter after he broke out of the halfway house.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: CBS/Paul LaRosa

The first plane Colton Harris-Moore is suspected of stealing was stolen in November 2008. The Cessna single-engine aircraft belonged to Seattle radio personality Bob Rivers.

With no formal training, Colton made his fearless first flight over the Cascade Mountain Range through wind gusts coming from every direction and a whiteout at 13,000 feet. There was vomit found in the cockpit.

How Do You Steal a Plane, Anyway?
48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: Bob Rivers

The first plane Colton Harris-Moore is suspected of stealing was stolen in November 2008. The plane belonged to Seattle radio personality Bob Rivers. It was flown from Orcas Island and crash landed 250 miles away on the Yakima Indian Reservation in central Washington. Incredibly, Colton simply walked away.

How Do You Steal a Plane, Anyway?
48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: Bob Rivers

Colton Harris-Moore took a number of self-portraits with a stolen camera during his two-year run from authorities. This image, released in July 2009, became the iconic shot of the Barefoot Bandit, as he became known, featured on wanted posters everywhere.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: AP Photo/Island County Sheriff's Office

Colton Harris-Moore took a number of self-portraits during his two-year run after breaking out of a halfway house in April 2008.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Colton Harris-Moore took a number of self-portraits during his two-year run after breaking out of a halfway house in April 2008. In this photo, a smiling Colton seems to be enjoying himself.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Another of the self-portraits Colton Harris-Moore took during his two-year run after breaking out of a halfway house in April 2008.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Colton Harris-Moore poses for another self-portrait while on the run.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

The third plane in a year that Colton Harris-Moore is suspected of stealing also crossed the Cascade Mountains. This Cessna T182T was stolen from northern Idaho and crash landed in a clear-cut field near Granite Falls, Wash.

How Do You Steal a Plane, Anyway?
48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: Pat Gardiner

Pat Gardiner is shown on Oct. 5, 2009, in his empty airplane hanger in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Gardiner's Cessna T182T, shown in the photo he is holding, was stolen from the hangar a week earlier. Gardiner's damaged plane was found in Granite Falls, Wash., after a crash landing.

How Do You Steal a Plane, Anyway?
48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: AP Photo

Detail from the Cessna T182T was stolen from northern Idaho and crash landed in a clear-cut field near Granite Falls, Wash.

How Do You Steal a Plane, Anyway?
48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: Pat Gardiner

Pat Gardiner's plane being removed from the field. Gardiner says the only reason the pilot survived is because of how well the plane is designed.

How Do You Steal a Plane, Anyway?
48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: Pat Gardiner

The fourth plane Colton allegedly stole was in February 2010, during the Olympics. It took off from Anacortes, Wash., and landed on Orcas Island. On landing, it veered off the runway and the ride through the mud burst its wheel covers, but the owner told "48 Hours" the damage from fingerprint dusting was more expensive to fix. The plane is still flying today.

How Do You Steal a Plane, Anyway?
48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: Tim Lewis and Jeff Hendricks

Detail of the broken wheel covers on the fourth plane Colton allegedly stole from Anacortes, Wash.

How Do You Steal a Plane, Anyway?
48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: Tim Lewis and Jeff Hendricks

The runway and tracks of that fourth stolen plane on Orcas Island.

How Do You Steal a Plane, Anyway?
48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: Tim Lewis and Jeff Hendricks

After that plane was crash landed on Orcas Island, Wash., a mini crime wave started on the island. In March 2010, an expensive security system was found destroyed and soaking in the sink after a break-in at Orcas Homegrown Market. The FBI tested the computer, but was unable to recover any images of the perpetrator.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: CBS/Kyle Ater

There were 39 chalk footprints found in the Orcas Homegrown Market after that same break-in. At the end of the foot print trail was a message: "C-YA!" The thief also took an entire blueberry cheesecake and a tray of unbaked ham and cheese croissants. Colton Harris-Moore allegedly burglarized the grocery store three times.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: CBS/Kyle Ater

This ATM on Orcas Island was in a supermarket, someone made an apparent attempt to break in.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: Colleen Smith Armstrong/Islands' Sounder Newspaper

Colton Harris-Moore is believed to have spent months on Orcas Island, allegedly committing more than 20 break-ins and burglaries. Police released surveillance camera photos from Island Market. Legend grew that he was hiding out somewhere in the forest.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: CBS/Law Enforcement

Colton spent months on Orcas Island, allegedly committing more than 20 break-ins and burglaries. Police released surveillance camera photos from Island Market. Legend grew that he was now hiding out somewhere in the forest.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: CBS/Law Enforcement

Bare footprints were seen in the mud outside Donna McNeil's house on March 18, 2010. That night there was a massive manhunt for Colton Harris-Moore on her section of Orcas Island. The next morning, McNeil's chicken coop was empty of all eggs (she expected at least five) and these footprints were nearby.

Video: Hear more from McNeil
48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: Donna McNeil

Stills were taken at a marina near Orcas Island in May 2010. A boat was stolen that night that was later found on a nearby island. If it was Colton Harris-Moore, this was the start of the cross-country trip that took him to Indiana and ultimately, the Bahamas.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: CBS/Law Enforcement

Colton Harris-Moore left a note and $100 in small bills to be used "for the care of animals" at Vetters Animal Hospital in Raymond, Wash., on May 31, 2010. The note was signed, "Colton Harris-Moore aka the Barefoot Bandit."

The next day a $450,000 fishing boat was stolen from a town a few miles south. In November, federal authorities charged Colton with that boat theft.

Read Colton's note
48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: CBS

Colton Harris-Moore allegedly stole this airplane - believed to be his fifth- in Bloomington, Ind., and flew it over 1,000 miles to Abaco Island in the Bahamas, where the plane crash landed. It was discovered in shallow water in early July 2010.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: CBS/Paul LaRosa

Colton Harris-Moore allegedly stole this airplane - his fifth- in Bloomington, Ind. and flew it 1,200 miles to Abaco Island in the Bahamas, where the plane crash landed.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: CBS/Paul LaRosa

While "48 Hours" was looking for Colton Harris-Moore on Abaco Island, he'd already allegedly stolen a yacht and escaped to the nearby Bahamian island of Eleuthera.

Video: See the bullet-ridden boat
48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: CBS/Law Enforcement

EXCLUSIVE: INSIDE COLTON'S BACKPACK

"48 Hours" obtained exclusive photos of the contents of Colton's backpack after his arrest in the Bahamas on July 11, 2010.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: CBS/Law Enforcement

EXCLUSIVE: INSIDE COLTON'S BACKPACK

"48 Hours" obtained exclusive photos of the contents of Colton's backpack when he was arrested. Included in there was a this Boy Scouts of America certificate, two fifth grade class photos, airplane sketches and a Walther PPK, the same style of gun used by fictional spy, James Bond.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: CBS/Law Enforcement

EXCLUSIVE: INSIDE COLTON'S BACKPACK

"48 Hours" obtained exclusive photos of the contents of Colton's backpack. These sophisticated airplane sketches were among the items police found inside.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: CBS/Law Enforcement

EXCLUSIVE: INSIDE COLTON'S BACKPACK

"48 Hours" obtained exclusive photos of the contents of Colton's backpack when he was arrested in the Bahamas. Along with two fifth grade class photos, a Boy Scouts of America certificate and his airplane sketches, was this Walther PPK - the same style of gun used by fictional spy, James Bond.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: CBS/Law Enforcement

EXCLUSIVE: INSIDE COLTON'S BACKPACK

"48 Hours" obtained exclusive photos of the contents of Colton's backpack recovered after his arrest in the Bahamas. Police found sketches of airplanes and a few remnants of a more innocent time, including photos from the fifth grade and a Boy Scouts of America certificate.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: CBS/Law Enforcement

During his alleged crime spree, Colton Harris-Moore achieved cult hero status and, at his peak, attracted over 100,000 fans on Facebook. Overnight, the legend of the Barefoot Bandit went viral and Colton became his own cottage industry.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: Shawn McClung

Colton Harris-Moore arrives barefoot, handcuffed and shackled as he is escorted by police to Nassau, Bahamas, on July 11, 2010. Colton was arrested before dawn in northern Eleuthera island. Island police had been searching for the fugitive since he allegedly crash-landed a stolen plane a week earlier on nearby Great Abaco Island, where he was blamed for a string of at least seven break-ins and has been running from U.S. law enforcement since escaping from a Washington state halfway house in 2008.

Video: Barefoot and busted: Colton in custody
48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: AP Photo

Colton Harris-Moore exits a plane handcuffed as he is escorted by police upon arrival to Nassau, Bahamas, after his arrest before dawn in northern Eleuthera island, on July 11, 2010.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: AP Photo/Felipe Major

Colton Harris-Moore, left, is escorted to the defense table, in Island County Superior Court, Friday, Dec. 16, 2011, in Coupeville, Wash. Harris-Moore pleaded guilty o burglary and theft charges in the Barefoot Bandit case.

Barefoot Bandit pleads guilty to state theft and burglary charges
48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

Colton Harris-Moore, also known as the "Barefoot Bandit," glances at the courtroom gallery as he walks to the defense table, in Island County Superior Court, Dec. 16, 2011, in Coupeville, Wash. Harris-Moore pleaded guilty to burglary and theft charges in the Barefoot Bandit case.

Barefoot Bandit pleads guilty to state theft and burglary charges
48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

Colton Harris-Moore, left, also known as the "Barefoot Bandit," talks with his attorney, John Henry Browne, right, in Island County Superior Court, Dec. 16, 2011, in Coupeville, Wash. Harris-Moore pleaded guilty to burglary and theft charges in the Barefoot Bandit case.

Barefoot Bandit pleads guilty to state theft and burglary charges
48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

Colton Harris-Moore, right, also known as the "Barefoot Bandit," stands with his attorney, John Henry Browne, in Island County Superior Court, Dec. 16, 2011, in Coupeville, Wash. Harris-Moore pleaded guilty to burglary and theft charges in the Barefoot Bandit case.

Barefoot Bandit pleads guilty to state theft and burglary charges
48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

In this courtroom sketch, Colton Harris-Moore, right, is shown as he appears before Judge Richard Jones, left, in federal court, Friday, June 17, 2011, in Seattle. Colton Harris-Moore, known as the "Barefoot Bandit," pleaded guilty to seven charges stemming from a multi-state crime spree that included the thefts of several airplanes and boats.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: AP Photo/Peter Millett

In this courtroom sketch, Colton Harris-Moore, right, is shown as he appears in federal court, June 17, 2011, in Seattle. Harris-Moore, known as the "Barefoot Bandit," pleaded guilty to seven charges stemming from a multi-state crime spree that included the thefts of several airplanes and boats.

48 Hours: Chasing the Barefoot Bandit

Credit: AP Photo/Peter Millett