Prisoners still on the run

| 15/08/2013

(CNS): The three men who escaped from HMP Northward last night remained on the run Thursday afternoon, when officials revealed that a fourth inmate had been placed in the High Risk Unit, suspected of assisting the father and son duo, Steve and Marcus Manderson, as well as Dale Chadwick escape. The prison said there was evidence supporting the suspicion that the prisoners were assisted by a fellow inmate, but it could not be confirmed whether or not the three received any help from members of the public. The two perimeter fences that were cut during the escape have now been repaired, officials confirmed.

The prison officials said that extensive searches have been conducted of the rest of the exterior as well as the interior of the prison before the full lock down was lifted. Prisoner movements within the facility remain restricted as the internal investigation continues.

Just before their escape the three inmates were in a secure recreational area, but Prison Director Neil Lavis has acknowledged that there is a need for improvement to both the physical security and infrastructure of the prison, as well as to the policies, procedures and practices. These issues were identified by the UK Prisons Inspectorate last summer, and shortly after the report was released Chief Officer for the Ministry of Home Affairs, Eric Bush, highlighted the need for considerable capital investment to effectively improve the prison’s physical infrastructure.

The men were said to have escaped via the kitchen block and cut their way through the fence sometime before 9:40pm, when the authorities realized the three inmates were missing.

Although a major manhunt is underway and officials have said that the search is a matter of priority in collaboration with the RCIPS, there were no road blocks established Thursday going in our out of the capital, George Town, or West Bay, the district where Steve Manderson was understood to have hidden during his last escape in 2004. This occurred just after Hurricane Ivan, when he was on the run for more than five months, and was his fifth escape, making this latest jail break the sixth for Manderson.

Officials stated that the inmate who is suspected of assisting with the escape is now in the High Risk Unit, where he will remain until the investigation has been completed. If it proves to be conclusive, the evidence will then be turned over to the RCIPS and he will be charged with aiding and abetting the escape.

Once the escapees on are rounded up, the authorities said, they too will face charges for escaping lawful custody. Upon return to prison, the three will be placed in more restrictive regimes and will lose privileges as a result of their elevated risk levels.

If anyone has information that might lead to the recapture of the three men, they are encouraged to contact the RCIPS either directly or via 911. Under no circumstances should anyone attempt to apprehend them on their own.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Seeing that the Cayman Islands Government is really not in a hiring freeze after all, why don't they hire Stevie boy as a security consultant for the prison.  Atleast we would know where he is.

     

  2. Anonymous says:

    One of the human rights lawyers needs to take up Steve's case. He's never changed his story and he's never stopped pleadinghis innocence. The officers are probably the ones who assist in him getting out because they all know he was the scapegoat in this case. I smell cover-up. Corruption. No one is willing to open ther mouth because too many heads will roll from the Prison to the police to the judiciary. Steve needs a good team of human rights lawyer and the Powell case needs to be re-opened. The disappearance of the evidence torubles me. 30 minutes with no assistance from fellow officers troubles me. Perople not allowed in the court room during this trial troubles me. no statements or testimoniesfrom the other officers that troubles me. 

    • Anonymous says:

      Thank you for your sensible contribution to the subject. As a relative of Steve's, it is indeed an embarrassment every time this happens and the name Manderson gets plastered all over the news in a bad way. Steve has a large number of relatives in Cayman, no one else of whomhas ever been suspicioned or accused, let alone 'convicted' of anything even approaching murder. It is obvious to me that Steve knows he has a right to his freedom and will forever continue to risk his life and embarrass his family and Government and prison officials and Cayman as a whole to that end. It is somewhat comforting, however, that the press finally seems to be coming to some understanding that it is wrong to sensationalize Steve as a dangerous murderer to be avoided at all costs everytime this happens. He is very obviously not breaking out of jail to kill people. I pray to Almighty for Steve's sake, and that justice will someday, somehow be served in his case. And I pray for the thankfully diminishing number of less intelligent individuals who continue to, ignorantly and unjustly, publicly condemn him.    

  3. Anonymous says:

    Steve has made a mockery of Northward. This is his 6th escape and now he is joined by his son … Amazing …

  4. Anonymous says:

    Yes yes! "IF" they are caught they will lose their privilege's. No more hot meals in bed,no more treats and dessert, no more tv, no more liquor and no more ganja! And no you cannot have the key to the gate anymore! Go sit in the corner until you've thought of what you did!                      

    YOU'RE GROUNDED MISTER!!! 

  5. Anonymous says:

    6th time? This guy is a genuis! At the very least he should write a book on his escapades, or do a movie- someone call Hollywood!

  6. Anonymous says:

    Why is the Portfolio not ordering an independent investigation in to this matter. Certainly there are a number of unanswered questions. 

  7. Cat says:

    I sure hope they hurry up and catch them and create a basement cell just for Steve. They should keep him in Solitary for the rest of his life when they get him back. How embarrassing. And were there any road blocks at all last night or today? When is that gonna happen?But I guess that's too late. They've probably gotten comfortable in their hiding spots already . And what timing. Just as we are hosting a wonderful CONCACAF event here in our islands something stupid like this had to happen? What bad publicity for us around a time that is suppose to be so good. As if we need more worries, besides low life burglars and robbers.

  8. Anonymous says:

    6th time?  Why isn't he living with the most restrictions?  Seriously, this time he could be out for a lot longer than 5 months, because in the past they usually found him pretty quickly didn't they?What a joke that prison is, no wonder there's so much crime, if you ever do get caught, it's an easy sentence to serve!

  9. Anonymous says:

    We do not understand why another investigation has not been conducted on Steve Mandersons imprisonment. Whenever you hear a Caymanian singing a sing you can check out all the lyrics in it. The entire Island is saying that he is innocent. Perhaps thats why he keep escaping to prove a point. Would somebody please please look into this matter. It is not at all nice if he is innocent to be put away for life. If he is guilty then he will have to pay the penalty.

    • Caymanian change says:

      Innocent for one crime? (*after already being in prison for another) maybe, but will be a jailed lifer for escaping 6 times so just a waste of our tax money to revisit any offenses. Lock him up a d throw away the key.  Better yet, ask our dear crown friends if he can now be transferred to a cold British rock prison.  

      • Anonymous says:

        Lets hope that your son wont have to be sent to a cold British Rock prison. Words are dangerous. Did you experience one yourself?

        • Anonymous says:

          Let's do it anyway. There is a fear of confrontation here so do not worry about any repercussions.

           

    • Anonymous says:

      You mean like the court case that sent him away?

    • Anonymous says:

      He killed someone… how is he not guilty?

      • Anonymous says:

        08:43 Did you see him do the act? We all have children so be careful of what we say. If he did the act then he should pay, however not only he but most of the public says that he is innocent. At the same time I am not encouraging him to keep running out of the prison and giving so many people problems. My sympathy to his mother and other familys. If Steve had not been in prison his son would have had the priveledge to grow up under his care and would have perhaps not benn in prison as well. This is mostly what is happening to our youth, no parenting this is very sad. We do not try to assist these kids but when they get in trouble we spend so much money trying to deal with the. Every church member and every service Club should seek out these kids and assist them which ever way they can. Prevention is better than the cure.

      • Anonymous says:

        Would you please explain to us exactly how you know he killed someone?

  10. Ja No says:

    Drugs, phones, young ladies and now a breakout! Looks like the new prison director has surpassed the last director in such a short space of time! 

    Wasnt he supposedly to be the best with so many years of experience? What happened? Ahhhh you under estimated the brilliant minds of our caymanian criminals.

  11. Anonymous says:

    Now you tell them that they will lose previlage. Who make that known until they are caught. So now you know they aint going to turn themselves in. And in which country do you not  have road blocks when prisoner escape. Oh I guess the ploice are thinking that they are petty thieves. Are you serious cops?

  12. The lone haranguer rides again! says:

    I wonder how many kids Marcus has?

  13. Anonymous says:

    The question Mr. Prison Director is : Why would a prisoner who has escaped 5 times before not be confined to maximum security ??????

  14. Anonymous says:

    Here we go agai. The askng for more money