Escaped Murderer Recaptured at North Carolina Hotel After Three-Day Manhunt
A prisoner serving a life sentence for a child's murder was apprehended at a hotel near Charlotte after escaping during a medical transport. The multi-agency effort ended without injuries.
In a significant development, law enforcement officials have successfully apprehended Ramone Alston, a 30-year-old inmate who had escaped custody during a medical transport. The capture occurred in the early hours of August 14, 2024, at a hotel in Kannapolis, North Carolina, approximately 110 miles southwest of where he had fled.
Alston, who was serving a life sentence for murder, managed to escape on August 11, 2024, while being transported to UNC Gastroenterology in Hillsborough for a scheduled medical appointment. Despite being restrained, he freed himself from leg restraints and fled into nearby woods, still wearing handcuffs.
The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction reported that the arrest took place around 2 a.m., with no injuries occurring during the operation. This successful outcome was the result of a collaborative effort involving hundreds of local, state, and federal public safety officers.
Department Secretary Todd Ishee expressed gratitude for the collective effort, stating:
"I am grateful to our DAC staff and thankful for the support and effort from hundreds of local, state and federal public safety officers who helped in the search and investigation that returned Alston safely to custody. This was an incredible collaborative effort."
Alston's original conviction stemmed from a tragic incident on December 25, 2015, when 1-year-old Maleah Williams was shot by a passing car while playing outside her family's apartment in Chapel Hill. The young victim succumbed to her injuries three days later.
Following his recapture, Alston faces additional charges of felony escape from prison. Authorities have transferred him to a high-security unit within the state prison system. The incident has also led to the arrest of a woman described as an acquaintance of Alston, charged with felony aiding and abetting a fugitive.
This case highlights the challenges and risks associated with prisoner medical transports, which are necessary to fulfill inmates' constitutional rights to medical care. It also underscores the importance of multi-agency cooperation in resolving such critical situations swiftly and safely.
As the investigation continues, authorities warn that anyone else found to have assisted Alston during his brief period of freedom may face similar charges. The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to maintain public safety and the complexities involved in managing a correctional system.
