The Sheriff's office in the small Ohio region notified the public via a Facebook post on Thursday afternoon. This is the official statement.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is currently searching for an escaped inmate who fled from a work detail early Wednesday morning.
On Wednesday, October 13, at 2:57 a.m., inmate, Shannon Nichols, who had been working stripping floors, fled the Jackson County Correctional Facility through an open garage door. He was wearing a black and white striped inmate uniform. The JCCF sally port door was open due to the heat and odor from stripping the floors. He ran down Water Street toward Bridge Street where the Corrections Officer chasing him, lost sight of him.
Nichols is 39 years old. He has blue eyes and blonde hair, with a goatee, but keeps his hair very short and may look bald. He stands 5’9” and is approximately 160 lbs. Nichols has a sleeve of tattoos on his right arm, as well as tattoos on his left arm, abdomen, chest, and back.
Deputies have been following leads in an attempt to capture Nichols. They traveled to his mother’s home at 378 Jackson Hill Road, where he was not located, however, authorities did arrest
Donald Shackles on several outstanding warrants at the residence.
Shackle was taken to the Jackson County Correctional Facility by the Jackson County Municipal Court Probation Officers.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public that if they see Nichols or know of his whereabouts to please contact them by calling 740-286-6464.
Nichols is 39 years old. He has blue eyes and blonde hair, with a goatee, but keeps his hair very short and may look bald. Investigators believe that Nichols may have shaved since his escape. He stands 5’9” and is approximately 160 lbs. Nichols has a sleeve of tattoos on his right arm, as well as tattoos on his left arm, abdomen, chest, and back.
Investigators continue to follow leads in their search to capture Nichols. As of Thursday, at noon, Nichols was still evading capture. A warrant for his arrest has been filed.
The public has questions
After this statement was released, questions about the timing of the public notification began to rise. According to the timing of the sheriff's report, the escape happened about 34 before the public was made aware of the manhunt.
Michelle Rister Puckett said, "Why was the public not informed sooner??? Is he armed or dangerous? Why was that door not covered by a guard? Why was he out of his cell at 3 am?"
Katherine Whaley said, "Why was he doing work detail at 2:57 am?"
Dekote Ricketts said, "Should have been posted within the 1st hr, could have helped with him being caught but more importantly, gave everyone the heads up to protect themselves! Poor judgment on someone's part."
As of this publishing, Oho authorities have still not apprehended this fugitive.