The search for two fugitives suspected of killing a Cortez police officer and wounding two deputies has slowed in recent weeks, but law enforcement authorities and residents of the Four Corners have not forgotten about the two suspects.

The reward for any information leading to the arrest of Alan "Monte" Pilon, 30, of Dove Creek and Jason Wayne McVean, 26, of Durango has grown to $70,000, Marlin Wittwer of Cortez Crimestoppers, said Wednesday.

Of that reward, $50,000 has been offered by the FBI, $10,000 by the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, $1,000 by Overright Trucking, the company that owns the water truck Pilon and McVean allegedly stole, and the rest is from miscellaneous donations, Wittwer said.

The two suspects have eluded searchers for 28 days since allegedly killing Cortez Police Officer Dale Claxton May 29 and then fleeing into Cross Canyon, northwest of Cortez. A third suspect, Robert Mason, 26, of Durango was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound June 4 near Bluff, Utah, after wounding a San Juan County, Utah, sheriff’s deputy.

Montezuma County Sheriff Sherman Kennell said Wednesday that searchers were continuing to follow leads produced by the investigation of Pilon and McVean.

Kennell said he flew to several search sites Wednesday morning, and he has another team heading out today.

"Civilians may call in and know the location of an old mine or ruin, and if it’s something we’ve already searched, then we disregard it," said Kennell. "If it’s something new, we go check it out."

Jerry Martin, Dolores County sheriff, said his department is conducting similar searches.

"Basically, what we’re doing as a sheriff’s department is to follow up on investigations that the FBI comes up with," Martin said. "We’re carrying out the tactical part of their investigations."

Martin said he’s in frequent contact with San Juan County, Utah, Sheriff Mike Lacy, and understands that Lacy is following up similar leads produced by the Utah investigators.