A convicted murderer who escaped from prison has been on the run for more than 24 hours, with police saying they currently have “no concrete leads”.
On Tuesday, Ramone Alston, 30, escaped from a van in North Carolina after being taken to a local hospital. Alston, who was serving a life sentence for murder, was taken to UNC Gastroenterology Hospital in Hillsborough for a medical appointment.
“He had freed himself from the leg restraints and, still handcuffed, jumped and ran into the adjacent woods,” the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections said in a news release.
Orange County Emergency Services Director Kirby Saunders addressed the situation at a news conference Wednesday morning, saying authorities initially used dogs to track down Alston. However, Saunders noted that the scent cooled and the dogs were unsuccessful.
Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood said at the news conference that authorities currently have “no concrete leads” on Alston’s whereabouts, but noted that the U.S. Marshals Service is currently assisting in the search. Blackwood said authorities have been using helicopters to monitor the area where he escaped and police have received numerous tips over the past 24 hours.
North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections/North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections
“He’s extremely cautious, extremely dangerous and he’s got nothing to lose,” Blackwood said at the news conference.
Alston was sentenced to life in prison for murder in 2018 in connection with the fatal shooting of 1-year-old Maleah Williams on Christmas Day 2015. Williams was playing outside her parents’ home when she was struck by a passing car. Williams was pronounced dead three days after the shooting.
Since then, Alston has been serving his life sentence at Bertie Correctional Institution in Windsor.
At the press conference, Blackwood also noted that the officers involved in Alston’s transport are currently being questioned. However, none had been suspended as of Wednesday morning.
Police continued to receive numerous tips about Alston’s possible whereabouts, including one that he had been seen in Durham. Blackwood said teams had been sent to the area to conduct searches.
On Tuesday morning, the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections announced a $35,000 reward for Alston’s capture, up from $25,000.
“A $35,000 reward is being offered as local, state and federal law enforcement and public safety agencies continue the search for convicted murderer Ramone Alston, 30, who escaped from the custody of state corrections officers Tuesday morning while arriving for a medical appointment in Hillsborough,” the agency said.
Todd Ishee, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections, said, “There’s someone who knows where Alston is.”
“We hope this reward will help them obtain crucial information that will lead to Alston’s capture,” Ishee added.
