Convicted Killer Escapes Ohio Prison, Sparks Manhunt: Residents Urged to Secure Their Homes
In a concerning turn of events, a convicted killer, responsible for a gruesome double murder in 2016, has escaped from a prison in Ohio, prompting authorities to issue a warning for residents to secure their homes. Bradley Gillespie, aged 50, went missing from the Allen/Oakwood Correctional Institution (AOCI) in Lima on Monday morning, according to the Ohio Department of Correction and Rehabilitation.
Gillespie, who had been serving consecutive 15-year-to-life terms for the cold-blooded slayings of two individuals, was last captured on surveillance footage at the prison around 8:41 a.m. Monday. His absence during a prisoner count on Tuesday raised alarm bells among prison officials.
Alongside Gillespie, another inmate named James Lee, aged 47 and convicted of burglary and safecracking charges, was also reported missing from Allen/Oakwood. Authorities have emphasized that both men should be considered dangerous and should not be approached by the public.
To aid in their swift apprehension, a reward of $21,000 has been offered for any information leading to the capture of the escaped convicts. While James Lee has already been apprehended in Henderson, Kentucky, local law enforcement agencies are actively searching for Gillespie, who remains at large.
Residents in the area have been advised to lock their doors as a precautionary measure and to immediately report any suspicious activity to the authorities by calling 911, as per reports from WFIE.
Bradley Gillespie, originally from Defiance, had been found guilty of the brutal murder of Hannah Fischer, aged 21, and her boyfriend, Frank Tracy Jr., aged 47, in September 2016. The Bryan Times reported that following a brief trial, loved ones of the victims expressed relief, stating that justice had been served for Hannah and Frank.
As the manhunt intensifies for the escaped convict, the community remains on high alert, hoping for a swift resolution and the restoration of their sense of safety and security.