U.S. Marshals are cranking up the pressure on one of Ohio's longest-running fugitives, renewing the hunt for Gordon Eugene Lambert and putting fresh reward money on the table for any tip that leads to his arrest. Lambert, who would be about 71 years old now, may be living under an assumed name and remains a person of interest in violent offenses, according to investigators. Authorities stress he should not be approached and that any possible sightings should be reported to law enforcement immediately.
Age-progression and the 1987 escape
Lambert broke out of the Orient Correctional Institution in Pickaway County on August 28, 1987, while serving a sentence for aggravated robbery and felonious assault on a peace officer, according to an age-progression bulletin from the Ohio Attorney General's Office. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation produced an age-enhanced image in 2018 and circulated it with the U.S. Marshals' Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force in hopes of shaking loose new leads in the decades-old case.
How he might look now
Marshals describe Lambert as a white man about 5-foot-9 with blue eyes and likely graying hair. The 2018 bulletin listed his weight at 160–180 pounds, though investigators say that at his age, he could appear slimmer today. Officials have also called attention to distinctive tattoos that could give him away, including a peace sign, a skull with a needle, and a woman riding a tiger on his right forearm, details reported by Fox 8 Cleveland.
How to report a tip
Anyone with information is urged to call the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833) or submit a web tip through the U.S. Marshals Service. Tipsters may remain anonymous, and reward money is available. The Marshals repeatedly warn that Lambert should be considered dangerous and that members of the public should not attempt to confront or detain him.
Records and legal background
Records confirm Lambert was serving time for aggravated robbery and felonious assault on a peace officer when he escaped, and the Attorney General's office has consistently cautioned the public about his criminal history. “This man has an extensive criminal history, and he should be considered armed and dangerous,” Attorney General Mike DeWine said when the age-progressed image was released, according to the Ohio Attorney General's Office.
The Marshals and their local partners say the reward, up to $3,000, is being offered alongside the composite images and identifying details, and that even small tips can be crucial in long-running fugitive cases, per Fox 8 Cleveland. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-866-4WANTED or visit the U.S. Marshals tip portal. Investigators emphasize that the search for Lambert is very much active and that they welcome any lead that might finally bring him in.
