Authorities believe a man who escaped Thursday from the Morgan County Jail may have fled to Athens County after stealing a car.
Christopher L. Clark, 19, remains at large after reportedly causing the cell doors to malfunction and running out a side door at the jail just before 3 p.m. Thursday. Other inmates alerted authorities to the escape.
Clark was tracked to Malta, where his trail was lost.
According to a release from the Morgan County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded at 7:31 p.m. Thursday to a report of a stolen car at 1717 South Riverside Drive in the Cottonwood subdivision just south of McConnelsville. The owner said she saw her car leave the driveway and travel on Ohio 376 in the direction of Stockport.
The vehicle was spotted at 8:15 p.m. in Athens County, near Pioneer Park, a mobile home park, the release says. The driver reportedly ran off the road and fled the vehicle on foot.
The vehicle was impounded and held in Athens County for crime scene processing.
The release says the sheriff's office believes the vehicle was stolen by Clark, although it does not elaborate on how he was linked to this incident.
Clark was being held on a theft charge when he escaped. A charge of escape was filed against him Friday,
The Washington County Sheriff's Office sent its helicopter, bloodhound unit and agents of the Major Crimes Task Force to Morgan County to assist in the search Thursday. Sheriff Larry Mincks said Friday his men were no longer involved in the search, other than being on the lookout for Clark locally.
"We're watching for him in the area," Mincks said. "We haven't had any sightings of him."
Mincks said it is believed Clark is in Athens County, where he may have friends or family. There is no indication he is in Washington County, the sheriff said.
