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Convicted Murderer Escapes Prison in Ohio, Could Be in Kentucky
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Two inmates escaped Tuesday from an Ohio prison, and one of them — a convicted murderer — is still at large, possibly in Kentucky.

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections said that Bradley Gillespie, 50, “should be considered armed and dangerous” after his escape from the Allen-Oakwood Correctional Institution near Lima.

Officials have not said how the two escaped. They were discovered missing during a prisoner count Tuesday morning.

His fellow escapee, 47-year-old James Lee, was recaptured early Wednesday in the Henderson, Kentucky, area, some 350 miles from the prison, according to Henderson Police.

The outlet said that Henderson Police were notified of a stolen vehicle in the area, but it sped away when they located it and attempted to pull it over. Police said they believed the two escapees were both inside at the time of the attempted traffic stop.

The car later crashed, and both suspects fled on foot. Lee was taken into custody, but police said they were still searching for Gillespie. They also said they found a piece of Gillespie’s clothing at about 8:30 Wednesday morning at Hays Boat Ramp near Atkinson Park, according to WFIE.

Police urged residents to “stay vigilant, lock your doors, and contact 911 if you see anyone matching the description or have unlocked buildings that Gillespie could be hiding.”

According to the Columbus Dispatch, Gillespie was convicted in the 2016 murders of Frank Tracy Jr. and Hannah Fisher. Lee pleaded guilty to burglary in 2021 and was convicted of breaking and entering in 2020.

US Marshals, the Allen County Sheriff’s Department, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol have offered a reward of more than $20,000.

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[Featured image: Bradley Gillespie/Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections]