By Ryan Harris
The Chattanooga Times Free Press
BLUE RIDGE, Ga. — A Fannin County deputy says it was “pure luck” that allowed three inmates to escape from their cells late Sunday.
Capt. Greg Newman said the escapees, who were at large less than a day, first slipped past a guard handing out medicine to inmates about 10:40 p.m. Sunday night.
Just as they slammed the cell door on the guard, a bonding agent was walking into the jail, which gave them an open door to the outside, Capt. Newman said.
“They couldn’t have timed it better if they had planned it,” the Fannin County officer said. “It was pure luck they got out of the building.”
The luck quickly ran out for the inmates, who were captured less than a day later after an exhaustive run through the rugged Blue Ridge Mountains. They were barefoot and wearing tank tops and gym shorts.
A massive manhunt that included several state agencies led to the arrests of Ryan Patrick Thomas, 20; Richard James Hill, 18; and Joshua Lloyd Sproles, 17. Police canine units and helicopters were used in the search.
Mr. Thomas and Mr. Sproles were in jail on armed robbery charges, and Mr. Hill was jailed on theft charges, officials said. They each now face additional charges of felony escape, officials said.
Capt. Newman said the three inmates are now on lock-down. He said they also are nursing wounds they suffered from running through a briar patch.
“They are scratched up,” Capt. Newman said. “They look like they’ve been beaten with a briar thicket, and they have been.”
Copyright 2007 Chattanooga Times Free Press