Post by Scumhunter on Oct 20, 2014 16:44:26 GMT -5
A manhunt began in Durant Saturday after an inmate charged with murder escaped from the Bryan County Jail.
Raymond Jay Stewart, 26, Durant, escaped at approximately 1:15 p.m. and officers were searching the south side of town that afternoon. Authorities also set up road blocks at exits to the city.
Bryan County Sheriff Ken Golden said Stewart, who had been in isolation due to his behavior, asked to take a shower, which is located in the book-in area. Visitation was happening at the time, and when a control door was opened to let a person in, Stewart ran out, pushing a confinement officer out of the way and then went out the back door of the visitation area, according to Golden.
Stewart was charged in March with first-degree murder for the beating death of Steven Lee Sessums, 32, Mead.
Shortly after the escape, a witness saw the inmate run in the area of South Fifth Avenue toward a water tower, according to law enforcement radio broadcasts.
The search was ongoing at press time Saturday.
According to Golden, no jail policies were violated, however, he said confinement officers used “poor judgment.”
Stewart came under investigation and was charged with the murder shortly after a passerby saw a body in Canella Creek off Old Highway 70 east of Durant, according to authorities.
The victim initially was unknown until the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation identified him as Sessums, who died from blunt trauma to the head and neck.
A probable-cause affidavit by Bryan County District Attorney Investigator David Cathey states that authorities questioned Destinee Delozier, identified as Stewart’s girlfriend, and she said she witnessed an altercation between Stewart and another man who had not been identified at the time of the interview.
The affidavit states that a struggle occurred in her home in the 200 block of East Locust Street and that the man who was later found in a creek became incapacitated.
Delozier made statements to investigators that indicated Stewart’s pickup was used to take the incapacitated man to the creek east of Durant, the affidavit states.
OSBI Agent Reanae Childers interviewed Stewart, and according to the affidavit, he admitted to the altercation with the unidentified man and also driving him to the creek, where he pushed the body over the bridge.
The cause of the altercation was not revealed in the affidavit, however, OSBI previously said that it began at a Durant tavern.
Stewart’s next court appearance is on a Dec. 8 disposition docket where a plea bargain can be accepted or a trial date will be set.
Admin Note: If you have any information on Stewart, you are asked to call the Bryan County Sheriff's Office or Durant Police Department at 580-924-3000
www.kxii.com/home/headlines/Manhunt-in-Bryan-County-after-inmate-escapes-279674792.html?ref=792
www.durantdemocrat.com/news/home_top/150218443/Murder-suspect-escapes-from-jail
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2800367/desperate-hunt-inmate-charged-degree-murder-escaped-oklahoma-prison-pushing-guard-way-visiting-hours.html
