S.C. prison escapee caught in Columbus
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- The second of two South Carolina inmates who escaped from a maximum-security prison has been captured in Ohio, authorities said.
Jonathan Melton, 25, was caught about 12:55 a.m. Thursday near Columbus, Ohio, after he stole a van in Illinois, more than 350 miles away, authorities said.
Melton and Robert Fortener Diehl, 26, who also escaped from Evans Correctional Institution on Sunday, ran from McLean County, Ill., police after a traffic stop Wednesday. Diehl was tracked down by police dogs, but Melton managed to elude authorities in a rural area of woods and corn and bean fields.
"We didn't know the van had been stolen until about an hour after we had already called everybody in," McLean County Sgt. Brent Wick said of the search for Melton. "The U.S. Marshals got a tip from a confidential source he was going to Columbus, Ohio."
He showed up there and authorities took him into custody, Wick said.
Authorities also have arrested two people from Myrtle Beach on charges they aided in the escape.
Christopher Rodabaugh, 18, and Wendy Crume, 27, were arrested Tuesday. The two had bought fence-cutting tools from a Conway Wal-Mart, according to arrest warrants.
Rodabaugh cut the outside prison fence while Crume drove the inmates away, the State Law Enforcement Division said.
Evans Correctional Institution has about 1,450 inmates and 250 uniformed guards, according to agency statistics.
Melton was serving 18 years for burglary and other crimes in Horry and Richland counties. Diehl was serving 15 years for burglary and other charges in Horry County.