The manhunt for escaped inmate Ramone Alston, who was serving a life sentence for the murder of a one-year-old girl, has intensified. As officials comb the area surrounding UNC Hospitals in Hillsborough, where Alston made his daring escape, the reward for information leading to his capture has reached $35,000. The incentive, having been raised in hopes of drawing out potential informants, was originally set at $25,000 by the state corrections department and later boosted with an additional $10,000 from the U.S. Marshals Service, as reported by NewsNation.
Alston was last seen wearing a gray T-shirt, brown pants, and white New Balance shoes. He was also in handcuffs connected to a belly chain with a black box over the junction, a detail provided by Orange County authorities. Notably, the inmate had managed to free himself from leg restraints designed to impede movement by putting pressure on the Achilles tendon before jumping from the transport vehicle, according to a statement obtained by WBTV.
Officials, including Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood, noted that Alston is "He's extremely cagey; he's extremely dangerous," and emphasized that he has nothing to lose. The sheriff has a personal connection to the family, having gone to school with Alston's father and known Ramone since his birth. Blackwood encouraged residents in the surrounding areas to check their personal surveillance cameras, such as Ring cams, and forward any pertinent information to law enforcement. "Our neighborhoods are riddled with Ring cameras, and I just want to plead to the public if you're in that area of interest in Hillsborough, especially around the hospital and these neighborhoods, please check your Ring cams," Blackwood told to WRAL.
A coordinated response is underway, with more than 600 acres around the UNC Hospitals Hillsborough campus being scoured by law enforcement. Investigators are also sifting through leads and tips, some pointing to possible sightings of Alston in nearby localities like Timberlake and Durham. Nonetheless, as of the latest updates, officials have not been able to confirm these sightings with certainty. "He’s either within a five-mile radius or he’s in the rest of the world, and we’re searching both," Blackwood said in an interview provided by WRAL. The public is urged to call 911 immediately and not to approach if they see the individual matching Alston's description.
