The Orange County Sheriff’s Department in North Carolina is on a search for an escaped prisoner who fled while being transported to a medical appointment. Ramone Alston, 30, managed to free himself from leg restraints and ran into the woods with handcuffs on after the transport van arrived at the UNC Gastroenterology hospital in Hillsborough. Despite efforts to track him down with the help of dogs and helicopters, authorities have not yet found any concrete leads on Alston’s whereabouts.
At a press conference held on Wednesday, Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood stated that U.S. marshals, alongside local deputies and other law enforcement agencies, are actively involved in the search. Blackwood urged residents living near the hospital to review their home security camera footage and to remain cautious, describing Alston as “extremely cagey, extremely dangerous, and with nothing to lose.”
Alston has been serving a life sentence at the Bertie Correctional Institution for the murder of 1-year-old Maleah Williams, who was shot while playing outside her family’s apartment in Chapel Hill on Christmas Day in 2015. The prisoner’s family and friends in the area have been contacted, although their level of cooperation has varied according to Blackwood.
The reward for information leading to Alston’s capture has been increased from $25,000 to $35,000 with a contribution from the U.S. Marshals Service. While some tips have been received, including reports of sightings in Durham, authorities have not confirmed any credible leads as of yet. An investigative team has been dispatched to Durham to follow up on these tips. The transport officers responsible for Alston’s escape are undergoing interviews to gather more information, without any suspensions reported so far.