Murder suspect and fugitive John McAfee defends himself via blog

John McAfee, the security software pioneer who is wanted in connection with a murder in Belize, has launched a blog to defend himself while on the lam.

"The Hinterland - The official blog of John McAfee" debuted on Nov. 17, with McAfee writing of a couple of reporters who he claims appear to be out to get him through the press by emphasizing his dark side. One, he claims, is seeking revenge over incriminating photos McAfee believes the reporter thinks McAfee sent to the writer's wife.

According to news reports, McAfee is the prime suspect in the shooting death of Gregory Faull, an American expatriate and a neighbor of McAfee's.

McAfee writes that he is on run with a 20-year-old female named Sam, photos of whom are in the blog, along with a post from her. McAfee says a handful of friends and associates have been rounded up by police over the past week or so. His posts are filled with dramatic descriptions of his actions (including returning to his home in disguise to find police digging up his dead dogs and cutting off their heads) and lay bare his suspicions about Belize authorities.

"The first two days Sam and I were on the run we were far from our house. I felt helpless, especially given the fact that so many of our friends and workers were being arrested. I realized that unless I knew, moment by moment, what was happening, my chances of coming out of this intact, both emotionally and physically, were slim. I needed to be close to area where the events occurred and needed to watch, and hear, the actions of the authorities. I also needed to do my own investigation, since the police only seemed to be investigating my whereabouts. My safety is contingent on the truth being discovered. I today announced on NBC Television that I am offering a $25,000 reward for the capture of the person or persons responsible for Mr. Faul's murder."

Another post urges readers to study up on Belize's prime minister and a Gang Suppression Unit that McAfee says has been used to go after the prime minister's critics and enemies, apparently including McAfee himself, as he refers to a raid of his compound by the unit in April. McAfee says the government was wrongfully going after him for illegal drug production and possession of firearms.

McAfee pledges that the blog will stay updated even if he is captured:

"I have pre-written enough material to keep this blog alive for at least a year."

McAfee started McAfee Inc. in 1987 and moved to Belize a few years ago.

Bob Brown tracks network research in his Alpha Doggs blog and Facebook page, as well on Twitter and Google +.

Read more about wide area network in Network World's Wide Area Network section.

Tags mcafeeJohn McAfee Belize murderMcAfee blog

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