"It was highly unusual for him not to come home ..." said Smith at a news conference earlier in the day. "It was completely out of character."

"My brother was 6 foot, like myself," Stacy said. "I can't imagine anyone taking him out barehanded. It was either more than one (attacker) or some kind of weapon."

He shook his head over the senselessness of it all.

"If it was for the car, take the car," he said.

CLOSE TO BORDER

The homicide happened on the grounds of the camp, a gated property with several buildings and a number of four-wheeler trails off the Drown Road, north of where it changes from pavement to dirt.

The Quebec border is just a short distance beyond.

"There's always been (unsavory) activity around the border," Stacy said.

The idea of an illegal alien committing murder to gain access to a vehicle is one that was voiced, too, after the murder seven months ago of Mooers Forks woman Alphegina Snide, who was killed in her home not far from where Manor died.

A neighbor, it turned out, was arrested for that homicide and now awaits trial.

HUNT ON

Police, with help from numerous other law-enforcement agencies, including U.S. Border Patrol, New York state forest rangers and Clinton County Sheriff's Department, closed off the area around the camp during Friday's investigation. Troopers on foot searched for clues along Canaan Road, near Drown Road.

A Homeland Security helicopter touched down behind the Mooers Fire Station, where police operated a command post.

There were no suspects, yet, LaFountain said. An autopsy on Manor's body is scheduled for today.

BIG, CLOSE FAMILY