West Virginia Inmate Escapes During Church Outing

Gregory Dale Stewart, who was on furlough to attend a church service, managed to escape from Parkersburg Correctional Center. The West Virginia State Police are currently on the lookout for him.

Details Surrounding The Escape

Stewart was last seen at the Cross Church on Market Street in Parkersburg, where he attended Sunday service. He is described as 5’7” tall, weighing around 145 pounds, and was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, jeans, and a black baseball cap. According to officials, Stewart shaved his head the night before escaping, presumably to alter his appearance.

Security Concerns At Correctional Facilities

This incident has raised security concerns within correctional facilities. Inmates’ opportunities to leave the compound even temporarily present risks that correctional facilities need to manage effectively. Speaking about security measures, Patrick Mirandy stated, This allows us to make sure that anybody we’re bringing into our facility is not bringing any type of drugs or contraband, which could be weapons – could be anything.

Enhancing Security With Technology

The Parkersburg Correctional Center had implemented advanced security measures, including new body scanners capable of detecting hidden contraband that older methods might miss. As technology advances, so must the protocols within these facilities to ensure inmates don’t exploit vulnerabilities.

Religious Furloughs Under Scrutiny

Religious furloughs like the one given to Stewart are coming under scrutiny following this escape. Father Greg Myers of St. Patrick’s Anglican Church noted how religious events bring communities together: We get together with pilgrims from other churches. Unfortunately, this integration poses specific risks in the context of correctional center security.

Where Is He Now?

The authorities believe Stewart may have removed his GPS monitoring device and could possibly head back to Beckley. Law enforcement officials are urgently appealing to anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact the West Virginia State Police at 304-420-4600.