Gov. Nathan Deal said the manhunt underway Wednesday for a pair of dangerous inmates who shot and killed two Georgia correctional officers “will not let up” until they are captured. They’ve been on the run since a brazen pre-dawn escape Tuesday from a prison transport bus 75 miles east of Atlanta.
“Sometimes it takes longer than we would like,” Deal said, “but I have every confidence that they’re going to get these individuals and bring them to justice.”
Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills called the prisoners — who fled the scene after carjacking a passing green Honda — “dangerous beyond description.” Officials said the two inmates escaped from a locked prisoner area, overpowered two Georgia correctional officers and shot and and killed the guards in front of 31 other inmates.
Federal, state and local law enforcement were pursuing Ricky Dubose, 24, and Donnie Russell Rowe, 43, in the slaying. Authorities tracked them to a home in the city of Madison where they apparently left their prison garb, changed into other clothes and took off again. Both have a long history of violent crimes.
Deal pledged that "no effort will be spared" to track down the fugitives and he urged residents to call 911 with any tips.
“We need everyone’s help, but do not take any chances that jeopardize yourself or anyone else’s life - because these individuals have already proved they’re very dangerous,” said Deal.
The governor said he’s awaiting details of the investigation to determine whether the state corrections department could have followed other procedures to prevent the escape from happening.
“The investigation will determine whether we need more personnel, more security in these transports. They’re a frequent occurrence, the kind of things that every day these transports are taking place,” he said.
“We need to find out what the circumstances really were, how did it happen – and what can you do to prevent it. Those are the lessons we will learn,” Deal added. “It’s a hard way to learn lessons.”
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