PATTONSBURG, MO. (AP) -- A northwest Missouri sheriff said a convicted murderer and two other inmates who broke out of jail may no longer be in the area.
The trio escaped Sunday night from the Daviess/DeKalb County jail in Pattonsburg by crawling under a fence around the recreation area.
Daviess County Sheriff Ben Becerra said Monday afternoon authorities believe the men split up and went in separate directions.
The men were among 19 inmates being watched by three guards in the jail's recreation yard at dusk Sunday when they slipped under a fence.
Clips that secure the wire fence to a pipe along the ground had been cut, apparently with wirecutters that had been purchased in a neighboring town and were found outside the fence.
Three women were being questioned Monday about any involvement in the breakout.
(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKTVO