A Colorado inmate slipped away from a transport van along Interstate 76 near Fort Morgan Friday morning, telling the driver he felt sick just before the vehicle pulled over and he bolted on foot. Bryon Roth, 33, was supposed to be headed to a Weld County jail booking on felony robbery charges. Instead, he ran east toward Fort Morgan, and as of this report, he remains at large.
How the Escape Unfolded Near Mile Marker 79
According to the Denver Gazette, the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office is searching for Roth, who escaped while being transported by Advantage Treatment Facility on Interstate 76 near Fort Morgan. The sheriff’s office said the transport was operated by an outside transport service traveling through Morgan County, and Roth was not in their custody when he fled, as reported by longmontleader.com. Roth escaped at approximately 10 a.m. Friday after telling the driver he was feeling ill, and when the vehicle stopped near Mile Marker 79, he exited and fled on foot, according to the same report.
Deputies told KDVR that Roth was not shackled during the transport. The Denver Gazette likewise reports, per the sheriff’s office, that he was not handcuffed or shackled while en route. Roth was in the custody of the outside transport service when he fled, and he had been scheduled to be booked in Weld County on felony robbery charges, authorities said.
Conflicting Details on What He Was Wearing
Descriptions of Roth’s clothing differ between outlets. The Denver Gazette, citing deputies, says he was last seen wearing a gray shirt and blue sweatpants, a detail also reported by Denver7. KDVR, however, reported that he was last seen wearing a blue sweatsuit. Physical descriptions otherwise match across reports: Roth is 33 years old, 5-foot-11, weighs about 180 pounds, and has green eyes and brown hair.
Roth was convicted of a robbery in Weld County, per KDVR’s report, and had been in transit for booking there when he escaped. Denver7 reported he was being transported to Weld County in the custody of Advantage Treatment Facility at the time he fled east along the interstate toward Fort Morgan.
Authorities Ask Residents to Stay Alert, Not Approach
The Morgan County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents in the Fort Morgan area and surrounding communities to remain alert. Anyone who spots Roth should contact 911 immediately rather than approach or attempt to detain him, authorities said. People with information about his whereabouts are encouraged to contact the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office at (970) 542-3445.
Escapes from private inmate transport services aren’t unique to Colorado — a Nelson County, Kentucky sheriff’s office sought public help earlier this year after an inmate escaped during a similar transport to the local jail, according to LEX 18. In the Morgan County case, no updates on Roth’s capture or current location have been released.
