Convicted murderer John Modie escaped from Hocking Correctional Facility sometime after 4 p.m. Sunday. Ohio University Police Department did not consider him a threat to campus.
A convicted murderer escaped from the Hocking Correctional Facility 12 miles from the Ohio University campus Sunday, but authorities recaptured him Monday “without incident.”
John Modie, 58, escaped from the Nelsonville facility Sunday some time after 4 p.m., according to a news release from the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
Correctional officers discovered the escape during the 11 p.m. count of prisoners at the correctional facility Sunday.
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction announced that at 10:50 p.m. Monday that a joint task force had recaptured Modie, according a Washington County Sheriff’s Office news release.
Sheriff’s offices from surrounding counties sent out an alert for Modie, who they believed was headed south toward Ross County, according to the Pike County Sheriff’s Office website. They considered Modie to be armed and dangerous and advised people to not approach him if they saw him.
The Ohio University Police Department monitored the escape and did not consider Modie a threat to campus.
“Given that the prison is 12 miles from campus, separated by rugged terrain, and the escapee has no known ties to Athens, OUPD does not believe the escaped inmate represents a threat to campus at this time,” the release states.
All Hocking College campuses were closed Monday due to the escape, according to a Hocking College news release. To the dismay of some students on social media, OU did not close any of its campuses as a result of the escape.
This university manages to mishandle every threat thrown our way https://t.co/b0Kz62rlZ9 — kylie souder (@kyliesouder) March 28, 2016
Carleigh Walter, a freshman studying business, heard about the escape when her friend at Hocking College posted a picture of a sign warning of the escape to social media.
“I don’t know if campus necessarily should have been closed,” she said. “They should definitely have more police out.”
Despite the circumstances, Walter said she still felt safe on campus.
“I always walk home at night with people,” she said. “I’ll be extra sure tonight.”
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction is working with local law enforcement agencies and the Ohio State Highway Patrol, according to a news release from the department.
Modie was committed to the department from Cuyahoga County, but has some family ties to Washington County, according to the news release.
To report suspicious behavior, call the Athens post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol at 740-593-6611.
— Megan Henry contributed to this report.
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