Nationwide Manhunt for Escaped Death Row Inmate
Juan A. Lozano
Associated Press
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The Guardian
Houston (US):
The search for a death row inmate who walked unnoticed out of a Texas county jail become a nationwide manhunt Saturday as authorities investigated whether he had help making the brazen escape.
The U.S. Marshals Office offered a $10,000 reward for the capture of Charles Victor Thompson and designated him a federal fugitive. Officials also alerted airports, border officials and other law enforcement agencies.
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See Also:
Jurors, Victims' Kin Fear Escaped Inmate
Report: Killer's escape sends victims' families into hiding
Officials 'embarrassed' by death row escape
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Thompson, 35, of the Houston suburb of Tomball, escaped Thursday after meeting with an attorney, though not his defense attorney of record, authorities said. He was condemned in 1999 for the shooting deaths of ex-girlfriend Dennise Hayslip, 39, and her boyfriend, Darren Keith Cain, 30. Martin said Saturday that investigators had found the civilian clothing Thompson wore when he left the building. It was behind one of the sheriff's department's other downtown jail buildings, and some effort had been made to hide it, he said. ``It's pretty clear at this point there was somebody helping him,'' Martin said.
Authorities also found the fake ID badge Thompson used, which turned out to be an inmate ID card with his photograph issued by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Thompson had put a piece of tape over the part of the card that indicates he is an inmate. Thompson was in the county jail awaiting transfer to a state prison. A jury sentenced him to death Oct. 28 after an appeals court threw out an earlier sentence.
On Thursday, Thompson was taken to a room in the jail for a meeting with his attorney. The visitor, however, was not Thompson's attorney of record, Terrence Gaiser.
After the visitor left, Thompson removed his handcuffs and his bright orange prison jumpsuit and got out of a prisoner's booth that should have been locked.
He then left wearing a dark blue shirt, khaki pants and white tennis shoes, and claiming to work for the Texas attorney general's office.
Nov 06, 2005
Juan A. LozanoAssociated Press
_____________
The Guardian
Houston (US):
The search for a death row inmate who walked unnoticed out of a Texas county jail become a nationwide manhunt Saturday as authorities investigated whether he had help making the brazen escape.
The U.S. Marshals Office offered a $10,000 reward for the capture of Charles Victor Thompson and designated him a federal fugitive. Officials also alerted airports, border officials and other law enforcement agencies.
____________________________
See Also:
Jurors, Victims' Kin Fear Escaped Inmate
Report: Killer's escape sends victims' families into hiding
Officials 'embarrassed' by death row escape
_____________________________
Thompson, 35, of the Houston suburb of Tomball, escaped Thursday after meeting with an attorney, though not his defense attorney of record, authorities said. He was condemned in 1999 for the shooting deaths of ex-girlfriend Dennise Hayslip, 39, and her boyfriend, Darren Keith Cain, 30. Martin said Saturday that investigators had found the civilian clothing Thompson wore when he left the building. It was behind one of the sheriff's department's other downtown jail buildings, and some effort had been made to hide it, he said. ``It's pretty clear at this point there was somebody helping him,'' Martin said.
Authorities also found the fake ID badge Thompson used, which turned out to be an inmate ID card with his photograph issued by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Thompson had put a piece of tape over the part of the card that indicates he is an inmate. Thompson was in the county jail awaiting transfer to a state prison. A jury sentenced him to death Oct. 28 after an appeals court threw out an earlier sentence.
On Thursday, Thompson was taken to a room in the jail for a meeting with his attorney. The visitor, however, was not Thompson's attorney of record, Terrence Gaiser.
After the visitor left, Thompson removed his handcuffs and his bright orange prison jumpsuit and got out of a prisoner's booth that should have been locked.
He then left wearing a dark blue shirt, khaki pants and white tennis shoes, and claiming to work for the Texas attorney general's office.
Nov 06, 2005
