Tonight, two convicted killers have been recaptured after a daring escape from the Hattieville Prison this afternoon. One man, a convicted pedophile is on the loose. At this hour, prison authorities are deep in the thick bush behind the prison trying to recapture this third prisoner.
But they've gotten back the two considered dangerous: they are Wilser Echeverria, who was convicted of killing Panamanian Ambassador Jose Rodrigo De la Rosa, and Rafael Mencias who had already been convicted of manslaughter for killing one man, and was then re-arrested after release for beheading another. He is awaiting trail for that killing.
This evening after both were safely back in custody, the prison CEO told us by phone how they escaped:...
Voice of: Virgilio Murillo, CEO - KOLBE Prison
"At about 12:30 thereabout 3 prisoners escaped from what we called the industrial zone. The industrial zone is that area in the prison where all the production takes place; blocks, chickens, woodwork etc., and they were all from Tango 7 building and all 3 were given an opportunity to work in the industrial zone, because somewhat would have seen them as trustees to some extent. I believe also they were tired of sitting in their cells doing nothing, so we gave them that opportunity to go and work in the industrial zone. Today they were engage in stocking the cement blocks that are produced by the prisoners and while they were doing that, they took the opportunity to just sneak out and ran into the bushes. The alarm was raised and we reacted and as a result of that we managed to re-capture both Rafael Mencias and Wilser Echeverria."
Reporter
"Where exactly did you find them and how did you all bring them out?"
Voice of: Virgilio Murillo, CEO - KOLBE Prison
"Well definitely they were hiding in the thick bushes that is a few hundred meters behind the prison's industrial zone. So we literally lit fire to the bushes and that smoked up those 2. I am very thankful that we caught the 2 main ones back, because Christian crimes are pretty much 2 counts of robbery and a count of carnal knowledge. So I don't see him as much of a threat as the other 2. I would have seen them as a real danger to society. So we have those 2 back and we are very satisfied with that. However, we're not going to stop at trying to get back Christian. We are going to stay here until night sets in."
Reporter
"Is it that you think they had hatched a plan or is it just an opportunity that presented itself and was it a lapse in security measures?"
Voice of: Virgilio Murillo, CEO - KOLBE Prison
"It would be a combination of all."
SO, again, tonight, one prisoner, Christian Neal form San Ignacio remains at large. Prison authorities believe he is in the thick bush behind the prison. He was convicted for carnal knowledge and robbery.
Email
Print