In a report by The News & Observer, Michael McLellan, convicted for the abduction and murder of 13-year-old Hania Aguilar, attempted to flee custody on two separate occasions surrounding his sentencing. McLellan, who on Friday received a life sentence without the possibility of parole, engaged in escape attempts both before and following the court proceeding.
Robeson County Sheriff Burnis L. Wilkins disclosed that the accused had crafted a homemade key to unlock his ankle shackles during transport to the courthouse for his sentencing. Although he was able to free himself from these restraints, McLellan was "still in handcuffs attached to a waist chain and was quickly subdued," according to The News & Observer report. The incident underscored potential gaps in prison transport security procedures, as a man facing significant charges managed to craft an escape tool while in high-security confinement.
Additional details emerged from a CBS4 Local article, noting that after his sentencing, McLellan achieved getting his arms through a space in the vehicle's plexiglass barrier. This maneuver enabled him to reach for the deputy's gun, though he did not succeed in obtaining it.
The sentencing itself put an end to a case that had haunted the Lumberton community since Aguilar's disappearance in 2018. McLellan was convicted of first-degree murder, in addition to pleading guilty to assaulting two other unrelated victims in incidents dating back to 2016 and 2018, as reported by ABC11.
