A Tennessee inmate was captured Wednesday evening just hours after he escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville.
Law enforcement officers discovered Richard K. Roberts, 36, and his accomplice, Rachel N. McMillan, staying at a lodge in Murray, Ky.
Both were taken into custody and will be booked in the Calloway County Jail. Roberts is charged with felony escape. McMillan faces a charge of facilitation of an escape.
Roberts reportedly walked away while on mowing crew doing an assignment outside of the prison.
"Officers patrolling the outer property grounds noticed Roberts had absconded and appropriate procedures were implemented immediately. TDOC's Office of Investigation and Compliance, working in concert with local law enforcement agencies, is investigating the matter," the department said in a news release.
Police said that McMIllan, who is from Franklin, Ky., picked Roberts up in a green Chevrolet Blazer and headed for Murray.
"Incidents such as this are rare," according to a statement from the Tennessee Department of Correction. "TDOC is continuously implementing best practices to enhance safety and is fully prepared to respond when needed."
The incident came days after the same facility was put on lockdown after eight inmates were injured in multiple stabbings.
Roberts was in prison for charges that included theft of property and worthless checks. Roberts' sentence started in January 2012 and was set to end in 2021, according to Tennessee state records. His next parole hearing was set for February 2016, according to the same records.
"Roberts is one of approximately 1,000 minimum custody offenders who work under indirect supervision outside the secure perimeter of the Department's facilities each day. Offenders selected to work outside of secure compounds are thoroughly scrutinized via our classification methods and have been determined to pose minimal risk for absconding," the department says in the statement.
The escape comes amid a debate about safety and security at Tennessee prisons. In addition to the stabbings on Friday at Northwest, a similar incident also happened the same day at West Tennessee State Penitentiary in Henning.
Correctional officers are concerned a change in their work structure from a 40-hour work week to a 28-day schedule that was intended to save money on overtime costs has led to safety problems.
Without enough people to fill the relatively low-paying positions — officers start at roughly $27,060 a year — officers have little choice but to work double-shifts. The long hours and under-staffing lead to safety issues, they argue.
