North Carolina murderer escapes prison with help of correctional officer

Another convicted murderer escaped from prison with the help of a correctional officer with whom he was having sex, authorities say. This time the drama unfolded in North Carolina.

Kristopher McNeil, 29, serving a 14-year sentence for second-degree murder, scaled the wall of Brown Creek Correctional Institution in Polkton early Sunday.

Residents recognized him Sunday night from his photo in media reports and called authorities, who picked him up as he walked along U.S. Highway 52 near the Davidson and Forsyth county line. McNeil is being taken to Central Prison in Raleigh, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.

On Monday, Polkton police charged correctional officer Kendra Lynette Miller, 33, with having sex with an inmate, providing an electronic device to an inmate, harboring a fugitive and aiding and abetting a fugitive. Her bond is set at $500,000. She had been a food service worker at Brown Creek since December, the Department of Public Safety said.

“We appreciate the many law enforcement agencies working closely by the department’s side working to get McNeil back in custody,” said George Solomon, director of prisons. “We are especially grateful to the citizens who called in tips and anyone who aided in his capture without anyone getting hurt.”

McNeil’s prison break comes in the wake of the killing of Richard Matt and capture of David Sweat. Those two killers orchestrated an elaborate escape in early June from Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York.

Matt was shot and killed Friday; Sweat was shot Sunday and is in serious condition.

Authorities have arrested two prison workers in connection with the New York escape.

Joyce Mitchell, a former employee at the Clinton facility’s tailor shop, has been charged in connection with Sweat and Matt’s escape.

Gene Palmer, a guard on the honor block where Matt and Sweat were housed, was arrested and charged with promoting dangerous prison contraband, destroying evidence and official misconduct.