A Colorado Parks and Wildlife ranger at Staunton State Park staged his own stabbing attack, prompting a massive search effort before investigators discovered it was an elaborate hoax. Arrest papers reveal the ranger researched "abdominal injuries" and related topics online multiple times before stabbing himself and lying about being attacked.

A Colorado park ranger faces felony charges after investigators say he fabricated a stabbing attack that triggered a massive manhunt and community lockdowns.

In fact, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday, the ranger had injured himself and orchestrated an “elaborate hoax” claiming someone had attacked him and fled.