The nearly four-month-long manhunt for Pennsylvania prison escapee Isaiah Tilghman has ended with his capture in Philadelphia, confirmed U.S. Marshals on Friday. Tilghman, who broke out from Blair County Prison on December 3, was finally caught by law enforcement in a culmination of a persistent search effort spanning several weeks, reports FOX29.
After making a daring escape using a rope and shimmying through a ventilation shaft, Tilghman eluded capture for days, and his presence was initially detected in Philadelphia when a stolen pickup truck he was believed to be using was located on Belgrade Street, complete with the truck's original license plate and all, authorities told 6abc.com. Tilghman, 33, was previously incarcerated on drug offenses and parole violations, adding another layer to his criminal exploits.
The U.S. Marshals connected the dots tracing Tilghman's movements, ultimately finding him and placing him back into custody; Tilghman's odyssey on the run initially kicked off when he escaped Blair County Prison, where he was held for trial on an assortment of charges including drug possession, tampering with records, and fleeing to avoid apprehension. According to information given by local law enforcement to Patch.com, Tilghman's legal trouble has deepened with his latest antics.
The recapture of Tilghman represents a small victory for law enforcement in a system strained with challenges, a system which faces criticism for its shortcomings, and which may be questioned whether an incident like this could expose flaws in prison security measures but for now, Philadelphia and its inhabitants can rest a bit easier with one less fugitive roaming the streets "in a statement obtained by FOX29.
