Duane Phillip Ranthum, a Live Oak County jail trusty working in the kitchen, escaped while a jailer was making the rounds between 7 and 7:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve, according to Live Oak County Jail officials.
A Department of Public Safety helicopter and Texas Department of Criminal Justice canine units were dispatched but, as of Friday morning, Rantham had not been found, officials said.
Live Oak County Chief Deputy Glenn Thompson said Rantham’s wife lives in Louisiana and she is ill.
Rantham is 50 years old, 5’11” tall with blond hair and blue eyes.
Ranthum was originally arrested on Feb. 23 by Three Rivers Police Officer William Jones, accused of trying to run down his previous employer with a vehicle.
He was indicted on April 4 on a charge of aggravated assault with a vehicle and later sentenced to 2-10 years in prison for the third degree felony.
Rantham was awaiting transfer to prison from the county jail when he escaped.
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