One of two inmates who escaped from a Virginia jail over the weekend was charged in the murder of a North Carolina deputy sheriff last year, according to court documents.
The Prince Edward County Sheriff’s Office was notified around 4 a.m. Monday that Alder Marin-Sotelo, 26, and Bruce Callahan, 44, were missing from Piedmont Regional Jail in Farmville.
Marin-Sotelo and his brother, Arturo Marin-Sotelo, were charged with murder in the August 11 slaying of Deputy Ned Byrd, according to court documents.
Byrd "died while protecting the community he served and will always be remembered for his selfless sacrifice," Wake County Board of Commissioners Chair Sig Hutchinson said at the time.
Law enforcement officials have been searching for Marin-Sotelo and Callahan, who escaped from the Virginia jail on Sunday at 1:18 a.m. and 11:14 p.m. respectively, according to a statement.
“We launched an immediate search of the area around the jail utilizing a Virginia State Police helicopter, K9 officers and law enforcement from multiple agencies, but with no success," Prince Edward County Sheriff L.A. “Tony” Epps said in a statement.
Marin-Sotelo was also convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, according to Prince Edward officials. He is 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. The FBI is asking for help finding the escapee, who they say is “considered extremely dangerous” and was last seen driving a red Ford Mustang, according to a news release.
Callahan was convicted of "multiple federal drug charges," police said. He is 5 feet, 10 inches tall, with black hair and brown eyes. The U.S. Marshals Service has issued a $5,000 reward for assistance in finding Callahan.
Police warned anyone who sees the inmates not to approach them.
"I encourage folks in the area to remain vigilant and to please call 911 if you see anyone matching the descriptions of these two men,” Epps said.
The sheriff's office is working with the Virginia State Police and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Four inmates escaped from the Raymond Detention Center in Mississippi last week, authorities said.
One of them, suspected of killing a pastor while on the run, was killed in a shootout with police.
Another, Jerry Raynes, 51, was captured in Spring Valley, Texas, and faces extradition back to Mississippi, the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office said.
The two other inmates, Casey Grayson and Corey Harrison, remain at large.
CORRECTION (May 1, 2023, 8:35 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated when four inmates were discovered to have escaped from a jail in Mississippi. They were discovered missing on April 23, not over the weekend.
