Two inmates who managed to escape from the Allen/Oakwood Correctional Institution earlier this week have been found to have used a rather unconventional method to make their getaway.
Authorities revealed that the fugitives, identified as 47-year-old James Lee and 50-year-old Bradley Gillespie, successfully eluded prison security by hiding inside a trash container. As the search intensifies for Gillespie, who remains at large, the incident has sparked an internal investigation within the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
The shocking revelation came to light on Friday when officials from the department disclosed that Lee and Gillespie had concealed themselves in a dumpster, allowing them to slip out of the prison undetected. The inmates’ escape has left prison authorities and law enforcement agencies scrambling to apprehend the remaining fugitive.
In response to the escape, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction has taken action, placing four employees on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the ongoing internal investigation. While the department has not disclosed the names of the individuals involved, it was revealed that a major and three corrections officers were among those put on leave. Further actions may be taken against other personnel as the investigation progresses. The Ohio State Highway Patrol has also launched a criminal investigation into the incident.
Lee, who was serving a sentence for burglary and safecracking, was apprehended in Kentucky early Wednesday after a police pursuit of a stolen vehicle, which the fugitives were believed to be driving, ended in a crash. Lee was captured at the scene, but Gillespie managed to elude authorities, and his whereabouts are currently unknown.
The prison break was first discovered on Tuesday when officials conducting the 11 a.m. prisoner count noticed Lee’s absence. A subsequent emergency count revealed that Gillespie was also missing. Surveillance footage from inside the facility confirmed that the two escapees were last seen on Monday morning at approximately 8:40 a.m.
Gillespie was sentenced to prison in 2016 for murder.
Law enforcement agencies are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity that may assist in locating Gillespie. Authorities have not released any further details regarding the ongoing search, but they remain determined to bring the remaining fugitive to justice.
As the investigation unfolds, questions are being raised about security measures within the Allen/Oakwood Correctional Institution and the overall effectiveness of the prison’s protocols.
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