Published: September 17, 2008 11:13 am         

Escapees detained in 17 minutes

It took 17 minutes for two convicted murderers to be placed back behind bars at the Attala County Jail on Wednesday, Sept. 17.

Darrell McBride, 33, and Michael D. Harmon, 31, escaped by pulling up the gate in the exercise yard.

McBride, 33, has been charged in the murder of Charles Green and is already serving time on an 18-year manslaughter sentence since 2004 for the murder of LaTricia Wilson in Leake County.

Harmon, 31, entered a guilty plea to manslaughter and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on Tuesday, Sept. 2, receiving 30 years in prison. Harmon had originally been charged with murder in the shooting death of his uncle, Johnny D. Winters that occurred in December.

Attala County Sheriff William Lee said they had to squeeze through the gate to get out.

Lee said all deputies and the Kosciusko Police Department were immediately notified.

With tips provided by local citizens, the law enforcement agencies were able to set up a perimeter around Lewis Street not far from the jail.

McBride and Harmon were found underneath a vacant house on Lewis Street.

“We got them back quick and without incident,” Lee said. “Everyone worked well together.” They were not armed with weapons.

Both inmates were transported to Rankin County Correctional Facility the following day.

The gates in the exercise yard have been reinforced and an additional guard has been placed out in the yard.

When McBride comes back to Attala County in October for a motions hearing, Lee said he will only be in Attala County for the day and will be under the watch of deputies and officers with the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

“This is a county lock up,” Lee said. “There is no jail that I know of that can’t be broken out of.”

McBride was in the county jail under a court order for indictments. Harmon had recently been sentenced.