Federal authorities joined the multistate hunt on Wednesday for three escaped inmates accused of assaulting three men in Kentucky and stealing a dozen guns, cash and a truck.
Lexington-based Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Agent George Huffman said arrest warrants were issued for Jerry Sargent, Christopher Marshall and Bobby Cockerell on firearms charges stemming from the assault Monday. The men escaped from the Branchville Correctional Facility in Indiana on Friday.
Police said the escaped inmates attacked three brothers in the northern Kentucky town of Sanders and stole items that included clothing. One of the firearms was a high-powered rifle, and authorities described the truck as a dull-green 1998 Ford Ranger with a Kentucky license plate.
Police have been asked to watch out for the inmates in neighboring Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia and Missouri. So far, few leads have emerged.
"We still have no idea, no whereabouts as to where they are," Huffman said.
At the time of the escape, Sargent was serving 50 years for robbery and criminal confinement, Marshall was serving 50 years for dealing cocaine and Cockerell was serving 20 years for burglary.
The arrest warrants issued this week were on charges of being felons in possession of firearms and possession of stolen firearms.