Homeless man caught, arrested for attempted murder

 

 

 

 

By TOM LYDEN

Staff Writer

Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a man Tuesday morning wanted for attempted murder in a Samurai sword attack, ending a tense three-day manhunt.

Jonathan Mishael Bays, 41, was arrested around 10 a.m. May 27 at a homeless camp along Mariposa Creek. Deputies had several homeless camps in the area under surveillance.

Around 11:30 p.m. Saturday night, May 23, police were called to the Creekside Apartments, where the sheriff’s office said Bays got into a methamphetamine-fueled argument with a resident. 

Bays allegedly struck a victim in the head, neck, shoulder and arm with a Samurai-style sword. The victim was taken to a hospital in Modesto before being transferred to UC Davis Medical Center. 

Family members identified the victim as 32-year-old Andrew Cooper of Mariposa. 

Cooper’s mother told the Mariposa Gazette her son’s arm and hand were nearly severed. One of his fingers has already been amputated. 

Rebecca Cooper said her son was “caught completely off guard while walking out of a friend’s apartment” when Bays attacked him with the sword.  

Bays was last seen fleeing the Creekside Apartments on foot down a trail that leads conveniently toward the Mariposa County Jail. 

The area is thick with brush, especially along Mariposa Creek. It also borders Idle Wheels, two apartment complexes and several light industrial buildings.

Bays was transient and known to frequent homeless camps around the town of Mariposa, said Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese.

Over the holiday weekend, there was an extra law enforcement presence along Highway 49 North to Highway 140 to Frank Wilson Road as deputies actively searched for the suspect.

The sheriff said Bays used multiple aliases — including Michael and Aaron — and people may know him by another name. 

Since November 2025, Bays has been wanted by Idaho law enforcement for a parole violation after being convicted of sexual abuse of a minor. 

A Mariposa County arrest warrant was issued for attempted murder. 

Briese said Bays first showed up around town a year ago, but had recently dropped off the radar. 

The sheriff’s office used drones, K-9 units and foot patrols in the search. 

On Saturday, a helicopter flew above town from the Merced County Sheriff’s Office. 

The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office assisted early Sunday morning with infrared cameras. 

Bays was captured on security cameras leaving the Creekside Apartments wearing tan pants, a black hoodie style sweater, black shoes and a camouflage style hat.

A photo released by the sheriff’s office shows Bays with a chest tattoo that reads “know thy self,” in elaborate script. The expression is often attributed to Socrates who said, “To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom.”