On December 27, the Wood County, Texas Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook about a possible sighting of escaped Hinds County inmates, Tyler Charles Payne (in jail for carjacking), and Traverro Behzad McElroy (incarcerated on a murder charge).
Officers with the Cisco Police Department attempted to stop a silver Toyota Camry with no license plate.
The vehicle refused to stop for the officers and continued westbound on Interstate 20 from Cisco Texas.
According to the Chief of the Cisco Police Department, the white male driver matched the description of one of the escaped inmates from Hinds County. He said he didn’t see the other occupant well enough to make an identification.
On December 25, the Wood County Sheriff’s Office was called about a van driving into the water into Lake Fork.
Quitman Fire Department divers recovered the van. According to police, nobody was inside of the van, but it was confirmed to be the stolen van from Hinds County that the inmates took.
Witnesses told police that they saw two people near the van and they left in a silver or white older model Toyota or Honda compact vehicle.
Police say they believe these two people seen near the van were the escaped Hinds County inmates.
Wood County Sheriff’s Department said that the inmates have ties to the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Both men should be considered dangerous and possibly armed.