Murder Suspect Rocco Jesse Zuccaro Escapes From Custody in West Virginia
Rocco Zuccaro scaled a wall at a hospital while undergoing a mental evaluation.
— -- A murder suspect escaped from custody while undergoing a mental evaluation in West Virginia, authorities said.
Rocco Jesse Zuccaro, 30, scaled a wall at William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital in Weston at about 4:20 p.m. Monday, according to a West Virginia State Police news release.
The Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, native is accused of fatally shooting Jason Pratz in McKinleyville, West Virginia, in February 2013.
Brooke County Sheriff Chuck Jackson called Zuccaro a “very plotting, very controlling person” in an interview with station WTRF-TV in Wheeling.
“He's very capable of planning. If he's out on the run, he's very capable of making his way through the woods and stealing clothing or whatever he needs to do to stay out in the woods for a while, and he's very capable of eluding the police,” Jackson said.
Zuccaro, a white male, is 6 feet tall and 170 pounds. At the time of his escape, he was wearing black pants with a rip on the left pant leg, a dark blue or black pullover shirt and glasses. He has dark hair and a mustache.
Authorities say the public should not approach Zuccaro, but instead should contact authorities if they encounter him. He had previously pleaded not guilty.