Facebook can be a way to keep in touch with friends and colleagues — apparently, even if you’re an escaped prisoner on the run from the law.
It’s been two weeks since burglary suspect Nicholas Grove climbed a razor-wire fence to break out of jail in Payette, Idaho, a small town on the Oregon border, where he was being held on burglary and firearm possession charges. Police don’t know where he is, but he’s been found on Facebook — and even gave an interview to a reporter from NBC affiliate KTVB.
“This is my element. Within four days I had a new life, new ID, new face, new job,” the man who claimed to be Grove, 27, told reporter Andrea Luiz in a messenger chat. He described his escape as an easy one, saying the jail “has more security flaws that any facility I’ve ever seen.”
Payette County Sheriff’s Lt. Andy Creech told NBC News that they are aware of the profile purporting to be Grove’s and are monitoring it. “It hasn’t been very helpful; he has his location services turned off,” Creech said. “It’s not quite as easy as you might imagine to find someone based on social media … This is kind of a first for us.” The person running Grove’s page posted missives like “if i fall, if i die know i lived it to the fullest,” and Kid Cudi songs since the escape.
Grove told the reporter that he doubted police would bother to track him down because of the relatively minor charges he faced, but boasted that even if they do, “Nick Grove doesn’t exist anymore.” The Payette Police Department, which is assisting in the hunt, told NBC news they are actively searching for the fugitive.
IN-DEPTH
- Escaped Inmate Exchanges Messages With Reporter (KTVB)
- Inmate Escapes From Payette County Jail (KTVB)