Homicide

Escaped Pennsylvania inmate charged with killing woman while on run faces preliminary hearing

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Robert Crissman Jr., center, is escorted from his preliminary hearing at the Armstrong County Courthouse, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015, in Kittanning, Pa. Crissman is accused of escaping from the Kittanning jail on July 30, 2015, and killing an acquaintance while on the run. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) (The Associated Press)

Robert Crissman Jr. is escorted to his preliminary hearing at the Armstrong County Courthouse, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015 in Kittanning, Pa. Crissman is accused of escaping from the Kittanning jail on July 30, 2015, and killing an acquaintance while on the run. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) (The Associated Press)

Robert Crissman Jr., right, is escorted to his preliminary hearing at the Armstrong County Courthouse, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015, in Kittanning, Pa. Crissman is accused of escaping from the Kittanning jail on July 30, 2015, and killing an acquaintance while on the run. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) (The Associated Press)

An escaped Pennsylvania inmate accused of killing an acquaintance while on the run faces a preliminary hearing.

The hearing Wednesday before an Armstrong County district judge will determine whether there's enough evidence for 38-year-old Robert Crissman to stand trial on criminal homicide and other charges.

Crissman escaped July 30 while delivering breakfast to other inmates as part of a work-release program at the Kittanning jail. An investigator has been hired to review that program and other aspects of the escape.

Sheriff William Rupert says Crissman walked outside to get the meals from a truck and fled. Fifty-five-year-old Tammy Long was later discovered beaten and strangled at a nearby home.

Crissman had been jailed for violating his probation on a drug case. He didn't have a record for violent crimes.