Authorities now say they think Thomson may have fled the country, but they are not ruling out the possibility he is still in somewhere on the West Coast.

The 46-year-old Thomson is wanted on two murder warrants and is also wanted for questioning in the disappearance of a third person.

One of the murder warrants was issued by police in San Bernardino, California, where Thomson is the prime suspect in the disappearance of 55-year-old Charles Hedlund.

A body was discovered in California on Saturday, near where Hedlund's pickup was found earlier in the week.

Police say the body was found across the highway from the pickup, and that the vehicle had blood on it. An analysis of the blood is under way.

Police in San Bernardino told KATU News "they have reason to believe that it is Hedlund's body" that was found near the truck but that will not be confirmed until an autopsy is completed.

Another murder warrant was issued for Thomson out of Cowlitz County in the state of Washington.

Investigators there believe Thomson is responsible for the death of Lori Hamm, a Longview woman whose body was found earlier this week.

Thomson is also being sought for questioning in the disappearance of 73-year-old James Erhgott of Spokane.

Thomson has an extensive criminal record including three felony convictions for rape and is believed to be armed and dangerous, said Laura Eimiller, an FBI spokeswoman in Los Angeles.

He has spent time in jail and a psychiatric hospital and tends to move from place to place, she added.

(From KATU & AP reports)