The Latest: Escaped inmate may be fleeing with 2 women

NELSONVILLE, Ohio – The Latest on the Ohio prison escape of an inmate convicted in the 2003 slaying of a woman in Cleveland (all times local):

5:25 p.m.

A murderer who escaped from an Ohio prison over the weekend and remains at large beat a woman to death at his Cleveland home more than a decade ago and then dumped her body along an interstate.

Cleveland.com reports (http://bit.ly/1XYXXIK ) John Modie's victim was Ucianna Ortiz. Ortiz hadn't been heard from for several days when her body was found by a security guard in October 2002. A coroner ruled she died from blunt trauma to the head.

Modie was arrested in Texas driving a car that had been stolen from another person in Cleveland. He pleaded guilty to murder, robbery and escape charges and was sentenced in December 2003 to 18 years to life.

He escaped from prison in Nelsonville on Sunday. Hocking College says nearby campuses are closed.

A sheriff has issued a bulletin saying Modie might be in a gold Jeep Grand Cherokee with two women.

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3:45 p.m.

A southern Ohio sheriff has issued a bulletin that an escaped prison inmate might be in a gold Jeep Grand Cherokee in the company of two women.

Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader says the three are possibly headed south or toward neighboring Ross County. The bulletin says Modie should have cuts from razor wire and that he should be considered armed and dangerous.

Guards at the Hocking Unit of the Southeastern Correctional Complex in Nelsonville discovered the 58-year-old Modie missing Sunday night during a prisoner check. He is serving a sentence of 18 years to life after being convicted in 2003 of killing a woman in Cleveland.

Modie is white, 6-foot-4 inches tall and around 230 pounds. He has gray hair and a gray mustache and was last seen wearing a blue hoodie, gray sweat shirt and blue pants.

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1:15 p.m.

Hocking College's website says the escape of a prison inmate serving 18 year to life for murder, robbery and escape convictions has led officials to close all campuses of the college in Nelsonville.

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction reported Monday that 58-year-old John Modie had escaped. Prison officials said he was missing in a late Sunday night count of inmates at the Hocking Unit of the Southeastern Correctional Complex in Nelsonville.

The college alert urges those on campus to remain indoors Monday and report any suspicious activity to the Hocking College Police Department.

State prison officials say they are working with local law enforcement agencies and the State Highway Patrol in the search for Modie. He was convicted in 2003 of killing a Cleveland woman.

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12:15 p.m.

State prison officials have confirmed that an inmate convicted in 2003 of killing a woman in Cleveland has escaped from a southeast Ohio prison.

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction had said earlier Monday that 58-year-old John Modie was missing in a late Sunday night count of inmates at the Hocking Unit of the Southeastern Correctional Complex in Nelsonville.

Prison officials say they're working with local law enforcement agencies and the State Highway patrol in the search for Modie, who is considered dangerous.

The white, 6-foot-4 inmate weighs around 230 pounds and has gray hair and a gray mustache. He was last seen wearing a blue hoodie, gray sweat shirt and blue pants.

Authorities say Modie is serving 18 years to life for murder, robbery and escape convictions.

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7:15 a.m.

Ohio prison officials say an inmate convicted of killing a woman in Cleveland has been reported missing from a southeast Ohio prison.

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction on Monday confirmed the possible escape of 58-year-old John Modie from the Hocking Unit of the Southeastern Correctional Complex in Nelsonville. The department says Modie was found to be missing during the 11:00 p.m. count of inmates Sunday night.

Ohio prison officials say they are searching the facility and working with local law enforcement authorities and the State Highway Patrol.

The correction department says Modie was convicted of murder in the Cleveland slaying in 2003 and is serving a sentence of 15 years to life for that conviction. Prison officials say Modie also was convicted of robbery and escape.