An Iowa man who faked his own death and fled the state to avoid a trial on child pornography charges has been arrested after six years on the run.

Jacob Channce Greer, 28, from Des Moines, was found on Monday and arrested in Spanaway, Washington, 1,700miles away from his grandmother's home after fleeing with money, a bow, arrows and a backpack full of survival gear.

He was last seen at a Walmart in Kalispell, Montana, on June 3, 2016, wearing a camouflage hat. 

Mike Powell, supervisory deputy U.S. marshal for the Southern District of Iowa, told  that Mr Greer was living 'off the grid' after he fled his grandmother's property.  

'After that, we think he probably traveled to the state of Washington,' Mr Powell added and that he was living in homeless shelters 'and taking odd jobs when he could.'

It is not known how Mr Greer made it to Spanaway, whether he was helped or how he managed to survive for six years.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers first arrested Mr Greer on charges of receipt and possession of child pornography in April 2016.

Described by the authorities as a 'survivalist', he was released under pretrial supervision with an ankle monitor and was living with his grandmother in Des Moines.

On May 31, 2016, Mr Greer's probation officer received a monitoring alert indicating his GPS device had been removed. 

A multiagency search effort ensued and Mr Greer's vehicle was found with a suicide note inside of it. 

However, searchers did not find Mr Greer's body and a federal arrest warrant was issued that day.

Through additional interviews, investigators learned Mr Greer was a 'survivalist' and had plans to 'live off the land' in remote areas of the upper western states or southern Canada, hiding out in abandoned cabins. 

On June 8, 2016, the forestry service located another vehicle associated with Mr Greer in Tuchuck Campground in Flathead, Montana, but he was not there. 

Investigators discovered Mr Greer had purchased the car with a $1,000 loan from a friend and that he had fled Iowa. 

'The arrest of Jacob Greer after six years is a testament to the tenacity of Deputy U.S. Marshals and our investigative partners,' said U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Iowa Ted Kamatchus. 'Even though the case went cold, they would not quit.'

Mr Greer is currently at the Federal Detention Center in Seattle and he will be brought to Des Moines to stand trial. 

• Iowa Man Who Faked His Death to Avoid Trial Is Arrested - The New York Times