Hours after he had escaped from prison in Lima, T.J. Lane was recaptured by officers on early Friday morning.
The 19 year-old killed three students back in 2012 during an attack at Chardon High School and was one of the three inmates that managed to escape from the Lima Allen Correctional Institution on Thursday. Another inmate was also captured soon after T.J.’s capture. However, it is unclear whether the third inmate, Clifford Opperud, 45, who escaped with the two apprehended inmates, was also caught. Opperud was serving for aggravated robbery, kidnapping and burglary.
Sgt. Andy Green, from the Lima police, stated that officers had searched the woods and residential area surrounding the prison, just 80 miles south of Toledo. He had requested residents in the area via Facebook to not share officer’s positions on social media while the search was ongoing.
While the inmates were considered dangerous, police had reasons to believe that they weren’t armed.
At the time he was being sentenced to life in prison, T.J. Lane wore a T-Shirt with the word “killer” written across it while smirking and gesturing obscenely towards the families of the victims. Officer Ian Friedman wrote on his Twitter account: “I’ve been asked whether he is a danger. Answer is no one ever wants to return to prison for a life sentence, Plus, case facts speak. ”
He pleaded guilty during his trial and was sentenced on March 20th 2012.
The families of victims described him as being a “vile coward” and a “pathetic excuse for a human being”.
Initially, the case had gone to juvenile court but after they ruled that Lane was mentally competent for trial, proceedings continued in normal court. He apparently suffered from hallucinations, fantasies and psychosis.
When hearing about Lane’s escape from the Correctional Institution, the Chardon Local School District announced that classes would not be taking place on Friday.