ROSS TWP. — During the four day manhunt for alleged child rapist Ryan McDermott in September, the Pennsylvania State Police at Wilkes-Barre in court records say he stockpiled firearms and explosive devices, including pipe bombs and grenades.

State police on Monday filed charges of weapons of mass destruction and several counts of prohibited offensive weapons against McDermott, 40, who has been jailed without bail since his arrest on felony child sex offenses on Sept. 21.

McDermott was wanted on an arrest warrant filed by Pittston Township police alleging he raped a girl at several motels in the Wyoming Valley in late June through August 2025.

Court records filed by Pittston Township police allege McDermott recorded himself sexually assaulting the girl who was constrained during the assaults.

Shortly after the arrest warrant was issued, state police assisted Pittston Township police in locating McDermott.

Several troopers with the Fugitive Task Force located McDermott driving on Main Road in Ross Township, where he managed to elude capture during a pursuit on Sept. 18, court records say.

During the search for McDermott, court records say, several search warrants were executed at McDermott’s residence on Bronson Road, Lake Township, where shotguns, rifles, and a machine gun were found, including handwritten notes about pyrotechnics and bomb-making instructions.

Investigators obtained multiple firearms, backpacks, ammunition, and firearm cases from a residence in Ross Township where McDermott was known to stay, court records say.

A backpack allegedly owned by McDermott and taken from the Ross Township residence contained 23 pipe bombs, three grenades, and blasting caps.

Court records allege three short-barreled rifles, a sawed-off shotgun, and 30 other firearms owned by McDermott were also taken from the Ross Township residence.

McDermott is facing 12 felony child sex offenses and one misdemeanor offense filed by Pittston Township police.

State police on Monday charged McDermott with one count of unlawful possession of weapons of mass destruction and 12 counts of prohibited offense weapons.

Reach Ed Lewis at 570-991-6116 or on Twitter @TLEdLewis.