A convicted murderer from North Carolina, who was serving time for the death of a 1-year-old girl, has escaped from custody during a medical appointment and remains on the loose as of Wednesday. The inmate, 30-year-old Ramone Alston, managed to flee from the parking lot of UNC Hospital Hillsborough Campus on Tuesday morning, triggering an extensive search operation over a 680-acre area surrounding the facility, told ABC 11 reported.
According to officials, Alston broke free from his leg restraints just after 7 a.m. and bolted into the nearby woods, though he was still wearing handcuffs at the time. The escape has left authorities scrambling for clues, with Orange County Emergency Services Director Kirby Saunders urging the public to stay alert for “any signs that Mr. Alston may have been there—any footprints, any discarded remains, handcuffs, attire, anything that we can find that would confirm a direction of travel and how he may have evaded capture.”
Alston was convicted of the horrific shooting death of 1-year-old Maleah Williams on Christmas Day in 2015. The incident occurred in Chapel Hill while children were playing outside with their holiday gifts. Williams’ mother recounted how gunfire erupted, and it wasn’t until she was fleeing the scene that she realized her daughter had been fatally struck.
Despite multiple reported sightings of Alston, none have been confirmed, according to Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood. “No concrete leads at this time,” Blackwood said. “Somebody out there knows this was planned, and they know who’s involved in it.” Sheriff Blackwood, who has known Alston since childhood, described the escapee as “extremely cagey” and “dangerous.” He added, “He has nothing to lose.”
Alston was last seen wearing a gray T-shirt, brown pants, and white New Balance tennis shoes. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has increased the reward for information leading to his capture from $25,000 to $35,000. As the manhunt continues, officials are urging local residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity that could help lead to Alston’s recapture.