Mississippi escapee serving term in murder case found in Arkansas

JACKSON, Miss. -- An inmate who escaped from a Mississippi prison while serving a life term in a murder case was arrested Tuesday in Arkansas.

James R. Sanders, 41, was captured Tuesday night in Helena-West Helena, which is about 50 miles north of the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman.

Sanders and Ryan Young, 22, escaped from that facility late Sunday or early Monday, authorities said. Young was caught Wednesday in Mound Bayou, 15 miles west of Parchman.

Sanders was convicted of murder in Lafayette County, Miss., and sentenced to life in prison in 2000.

Young was sentenced to 40 years in prison in 2015 after being convicted of burglary, grand larceny and illegal gun possession in Claiborne County, Miss.

Mississippi Department of Corrections spokesman Grace Fisher said officials are investigating how the men escaped and whether others could face criminal charges for helping.

State Desk on 09/22/2017

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