Serial bank-robbery suspect still in hospital

It appears that the next trip for the man suspected of being a bank robber dubbed "The Traveler" will be to the U.S. District Courthouse in Portland for an appearance before a U.S. magistrate.

But, for now, Martin Willsey is in a Portland hospital recovering from a gunshot wound in the head. He was in serious condition yesterday, a spokeswoman said.

According to the FBI, Willsey, 34, was shot Monday morning by a bank guard as he ran out of a Washington Mutual Bank branch in Clackamas, Ore., which he had allegedly just held up. He is believed to have robbed the same branch Oct. 23, 1996, the FBI said.

The Traveler gained his nickname by holding up banks throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Utah. Authorities say bank employees gave similar descriptions of a robber with a "hawk ish" nose who used aggressive tactics.

Law-enforcement officials think Monday's robbery in Clackamas was about the 40th committed by The Traveler since June 23, 1994, when the string started at a Key Bank branch in Lake Oswego, Ore.

Fifteen of those robberies were in Washington, including in Seattle, Bothell, Maple Valley, Bellevue, Olympia, Milton and Bonney Lake, according to a list provided by the FBI. Some branches were robbed several times.

Mike Ruffner, an FBI agent in Portland, said that while law-enforcement officials suspect Willsey is The Traveler, they have not confirmed that, and he has not been charged in any of the holdups. Willsey's appearance and his alleged behavior in Monday's robbery prompted law-enforcement agencies to link him to The Traveler, Ruffner said.

Ruffner said he could not discuss details of the investigation, including why The Traveler was so difficult to apprehend.

The Traveler is profiled on an FBI "most wanted" Web site, which describes him as slender and white, with a goatee and a "hawkish" nose. He generally carries an automatic pistol and often is aggressive and verbally abusive, according to the profile.

The Traveler has tried to hide his identity by wearing a baseball cap with a nylon-mesh stocking over his face, a camouflage fishing hat and sun glasses or a black ski mask, according to the Web site.

Angela Blanchard, spokeswoman for the Clackamas County sheriff, said The Traveler also was profiled on the TV show "America's Most Wanted."

Through May, there have been 140 bank holdups in Washington state, including 93 in King County. A record 357 bank robberies occurred in Washington during 1998, followed by 334 in 1999.

Dave Birkland's phone message number is 206-515-5682. His e-mail address is dbirkland@seattletimes.com.