Escaped Hinds County detainees remain on the run

HINDS COUNTY, Miss. (WLBT) - A white church van believed to be stolen by at least one of the two escaped Hinds County inmates have been located in a body of water in Wood County, Texas, which is about 330 miles from Raymond.

According to Sheriff Tyree Jones, 31-year-old Tyler Charles Payne and 36-year-old Traverro McElroy both were missing during Sunday morning’s head count.

After looking at the surveillance video, deputies say Payne and McElroy left the facility around 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

The sheriff says the van has since been located in a body of water in Wood County, Texas, which is over 400 miles from Raymond, Mississippi.

Deputies believe Payne is from that area.

McElroy was being held at the detention center on murder charges and Payne was there for armed carjacking.

“A witness reported a [white male] pushing the van into the water,” Sheriff Tyree Jones said in a Tweet. “The van was later removed and confirmed.”

The stolen white Chevy van from Belmont Church which was connected to at least one of the escaped detainees has been recovered from a body of water in Anna, TX this afternoon. A witness reported a WM pushing the van into the water. The van was later removed and confirmed.
— TyreeJonesSheriff (@TyreeSheriff) December 25, 2022

McElroy was being held at the detention center on charges of murder and being in possession of a firearm, while Payne was being charged with armed carjacking/taking of a vehicle, according to the Hinds County Detention Center’s inmate database.

“Due to the nature of the crimes that they’re being held for, I would say they are dangerous,” Jones said.

The sheriff says his office is working to get warrants issued for the duo’s arrests and is seeking federal help to capture them.

If anyone spots the two men, they are asked to call (601) 352-1521.

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