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2 Killers, Rapist Escape Indiana State Prison
Manhunt under way; trio slipped max-security lockup via tunnels
(AP)
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Three inmates, facing a total of at least 120 more years behind bars, escaped a maximum-security prison in Indiana yesterday, apparently through underground tunnels and pipes. The men, two convicted murderers and a rapist, were considered dangerous, and prison officials used a telephone notification system to send alerts to nearby residents and others. It was not known if any of the men had weapons.
Authorities identified the men as Charles Smith, 48, Mark Booher, 46, and Lance Battreal, 45. All three faced at least 30 more years behind bars. Authorities did not know where the men might be headed, a Department of Correction spokesmen said. Investigators were poring over visitor logs and talking to the men's relatives in hopes of finding leads. The trio was discovered missing from their housing units around 10am yesterday, said the spokesman.
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