Murderer Escapes La. Federal Prison

April 6, 2006 — -- Authorities are searching for a murderer who escaped a federal prison in Louisiana.

Officials at the U.S. Penitentiary in Pollock say Richard McNair, who is serving a life sentence for murder and burglary in North Dakota, was discovered missing Wednesday. McNair, authorities believe, escaped in a mail van after he hid in a warehouse on the prison complex.

The FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, and North Dakota law enforcement officials are working together to apprehend McNair. Prison officials say he is a martial arts expert with a history of violence and carjacking, and should not be confronted.

"This inmate is considered to be dangerous and should not be approached," Jane Haschemeyer, public information officer of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, said in a statement.

McNair, 47, is 6 feet tall, 210 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. He has scars on his left wrist and on both knees.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts should contact the U.S. Marshals Service at (318) 676-4200 or the U.S. Penitentiary in Pollock at (318) 561-5384.