Local Fugitive Modified Appearance, Altered Fingerprints To Avoid Arrest

A Westmoreland County man eluded capture for years, using plastic surgery to modify his appearance, until finally captured in Florida.

Ralph Skundrich had been a fugitive wanted by the FBI since 2005 when he allegedly cut off an electronic monitoring device and fled Westmoreland County where he was facing burglary and robbery charges.

Authorities said Skundrich had been able to evade capture by modifying his appearance using plastic surgery.

In comparing photos of Skundrich before and after his capture, plastic surgeon Dr. Denis Hurwitz said, “What we see most dramatically … he has a broad, long nose with a depressed depression of his tip … now the most recent picture … his nose (is) much shorter. No longer does he have a depressed, broad tip.”

Hurwitz said he believed Skundrich had the nose job and other reconstructive plastic surgery to give him “a totally different ethnic look.”

The doctor said there is also evidence of another procedure done to lighten his complexion, which is similar to what Michael Jackson had done to his skin.

Channel 11’s Alan Jennings said sources told him Skundrich also had his fingerprints altered, causing Florida authorities to misidentify him in three minor arrests over the years.

Skundrich is now in Pompano Beach Jail awaiting extradition.