Convicted Murderers Escape Alabama Prison

B I R M I N G H A M, Ala., Jan. 31 -- Tracking dogs and scores of policesearched today for six inmates who escaped the maximum-securitySt. Clair Correctional Facility by sliding under a 5,000-voltelectric fence.

The escapees included three convicted murderers, two of whomwere serving life without parole. The third was serving a lifeterm.

All six were considered dangerous, but authorities were unsurewhether they were armed.

The men fled the prison after dark Tuesday by using a broomstick to lift an electrified fence so they could slide under it,Prison Commissioner Mike Haley said. Then they went under a secondfence that wasn't electrified, he said.

Police Use Roadblocks and Helicopters

"We don't know if there was a car waiting for them," Haleysaid. "The dogs picked up their scent, both by footprints andtrack, but we have been unable to locate them."

The six could have fled into dense, hilly forestland thatsurrounds the prison, located near St. Clair Springs about 20 milesnortheast of Birmingham.

Haley said the men were discovered missing during an 8 p.m. headcount but could have escaped as early as 5:30 p.m., giving them ahead start on searchers.

Sheriff's deputies, city police and state troopers put uproadblocks to check vehicles passing through the area. A statehelicopter flew overhead looking for the men.

Convicted Murderers, Robbers in Group

Haley said O.C. Borden, 33, and Gary Scott, 31, were bothserving sentences of life without parole for capital murder. Bordenwas convicted in Limestone County, Scott in Cullman County.

Steve Murphy, 45, was sentenced to life imprisonment for amurder conviction in Colbert County, and Jack Allred, 43, wasserving life without parole for robbery in Jefferson County.

Billy Gamble, 24, was serving 25 years for a robbery in MarshallCounty, and James McClain, 35, was sentenced to 20 years for aburglary in Morgan County.

Haley said prison officials were unsure whether the fugitiveswere copying last month's prison breakout by seven Texas inmates."It's crossed our minds," he said.