A search is in progress for four inmates who escaped from a correctional center in central Alabama, according to authorities.
The inmates fled the Perry County Correctional PREP Center in Uniontown, Alabama. The Perry County Sheriff’s Office reported the escape to law enforcement agencies around 1 a.m. local time on Saturday.
The sheriffs identified the escapees as Marquavious Billingsley, Jaden Christopher Maxwell, Johnny Dave Harris Bush Jr., and Kevin Gunn. Details about how they managed to escape were not immediately available.
These inmates hail from Dallas County, Alabama, and were at the PREP center due to an agreement with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department. The PREP Center stands for Parole and Probation Reentry Education and Employment Program Center.
The inmates faced charges that included murder, first-degree robbery, breaking and entering vehicles, first-degree escape, first-degree assault, and promoting prison contraband.
Authorities urge anyone with information about the escapees’ whereabouts to call 911. They advise the public not to confront them.
“The safety of Perry County residents is the top priority,” said Perry County Sheriff Roy Fikes in a news release. He added that deputies and assisting agencies are actively pursuing efforts to locate and apprehend the escapees, with an investigation currently in progress.