A convicted North Carolina killer serving time for the death of a 1-year-old girl escaped from custody during a medical appointment and remained at large as of Wednesday. The inmate, Ramone Alston, 30, managed to flee the parking lot of UNC Hospital’s Hillsborough campus Tuesday morning, triggering an extensive search operation in a 680-acre area surrounding the facility, police said. As reported by ABC 11.
According officialsAlston broke free from his leg restraints shortly after 7 a.m. and fled into the nearby woods, though he was still wearing handcuffs at the time. The escape has left authorities searching for clues, with Orange County Emergency Services Director Kirby Saunders urging the public to remain alert for “any signs that Mr. Alston may have been there — footprints, discarded remains, handcuffs, clothing — anything we can find that confirms the direction of travel and how he may have evaded capture.”
Alston was convicted in the horrific shooting death of one-year-old Maleah Williams on Christmas Day in 2015. The incident occurred in Chapel Hill while the children were playing outside with their Christmas presents. Williams’ mother recounted how the shooting broke out and it wasn’t until she fled the scene that she realized her daughter had been killed.
Despite multiple reported According to Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood, there have been no confirmed sightings of Alston. “There are no concrete leads at this time,” Blackwood said. “Somebody knows this was planned and knows who is involved in it.” Sheriff Blackwood, who has known Alston since childhood, described the fugitive as “extremely cautious” and “dangerous.” He added: “He has nothing to lose.”
Alston was last seen wearing a gray T-shirt, brown pants and white New Balance sneakers. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has increased the reward for information leading to his capture from $25,000 to $35,000. As the search continues, officials are urging local residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity that could lead to Alston’s recapture.