Samurai sword wielding man wanted for attempted murder

On a sunny Sunday afternoon before Memorial Day, Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese found himself slowly patrolling the eerily quiet Idle Wheels mobile home park in his unmarked SUV, when he was flagged down by one of the residents.

She asked if he could come search her backyard. Her dogs were barking at 3 a.m. last night. And she was worried.

Because a man with a Samurai sword, wanted for attempted murder, was still out there.

Somewhere.

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

Bays, 41, allegedly struck the 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.

Cooper’s mother posted on social media that her son’s arm and hand were nearly severed and he was in a medically induced coma.

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, the sheriff said.

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.

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

As the sheriff spoke, a helicopter flew above town from the Merced County Sheriff’s Office.

Overnight deputies searched the area with K-9 units. Drone teams were brought in by early morning.

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

Briese said he knew the extra help couldn’t stick around all day, not during a busy holiday weekend.

“They have stuff going in their own counties,” he said.

The sheriff then went with the resident to search her backyard.

Nothing was found.

Bays was last seen wearing tan pants, a black hoodie style sweater, black shoes and a camouflage style hat. He is 5’11’ and weighs 180 pounds.

He may still be armed with the sword.

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.”

No other information was available about this case as of our press time on Tuesday morning.