Murder suspect Rafael McCloud escaped from jail on Wednesday. (Warren County Jail)
A capital murder suspect is still on the lam after a daring escape from a Mississippi county jail early Wednesday.
State police agencies and the U.S. Marshals Service joined local
authorities Thursday in searching Vicksburg and surrounding areas for Rafael McCloud, 34.
McCloud was indicted in January for capital murder, burglary, rape, sexual battery without consent, attempted arson, larceny-motor vehicle and possession of a weapon. He's suspected in the death of Sharon Wilson, 69, whose body was found outside an abandoned hospital by ghost hunters.
Sheriff Martin Pace said McCloud escaped from the Warren County Jail using a homemade shank to briefly take a jail employee hostage and force him to give up his keys, radio, pants and jacket. Pace says deputies recovered the radio and keys on the jail grounds.
"We operate and continue to operate under the presumption that he is still here (in the area), until we receive verification that he is not," Pace said.
McCloud was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, the guard's green pants and a black jacket.
Vicksburg Police Chief Walter Armstrong called McCloud extremely dangerous.
"We have expanded our search area to the northeast part of the city," Armstrong said. "The area has a large number of abandoned homes and businesses, good hiding places for McCloud."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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