Search continues for inmate who walked off West Virginia work launch

CHARLESTON — Authorities are persevering with the seek for an inmate who ran off from a piece launch element on the Mountain State Forest Competition workplace in Randolph County.

“We’re simply following leads at this level,” Randolph County Sheriff Robert Elbon Jr. stated in a Monday phone interview. “We’re mainly following leads, and if we get them we go to the world and test it out.”

The inmate nonetheless on the free has been recognized as 30-year-old Denver Bennett, who, on the time, was carrying tan pants and a white T-shirt. He’s listed as 6 toes tall and 210 kilos.

He’s described as a local of the world, who is aware of the area nicely. “He’s a woodsman sort and really elusive within the forest setting,” the Randolph County Sheriff wrote in a social media submit.

Bennett had been an inmate on the Pruntytown Correctional Middle with two prior convictions: shoplifting, third offense in 2018 and felony fleeing from an officer in a car in 2022. His projected launch date was July 2030, though a parole listening to is scheduled for April.

He had been the topic of native crime information beforehand. A WDTV tv headline from a 2021 story that targeted on Bennett was, “Man allegedly breaks into Randolph County dwelling, steals gadgets, eats Vienna sausages and Jell-O.”

The house owner in that incident additionally reported lacking potato chips and empty Coke cans, however he discovered fishing boots that weren’t his personal.

On this case, Sheriff Elbon stated Bennett was on work launch to assist with preparation for the annual forest competition that begins Sept. 30.

“They’ve had inmates for years which have come and assist put up phases and issues like that, steps and no matter it takes to make that factor go through the years,” Elbon stated on the phone. “Additionally they take the stuff down when it’s over. It’s one thing they’ve finished for years.

“Now this man, he’s been an escape threat for us — each time we went after him, parole, issues like that — he’s run off from parole a few occasions as nicely. They introduced him as much as work and he took off.”

Officers with the assistance of canine items responded to his escape on Friday. The search effort led first to the McDonalds in Elkins after which into the woods behind a KFC.

“We weren’t in a position to catch as much as him,” Elbon stated as a brand new week started. “He’s nonetheless on the run.”