Inmate loses weight and manages to escape through jail's air vent

Published Saturday July 19th, 2008

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

HEMPSTEAD, Texas - A man charged with murder has escaped from a Texas jail by climbing through an air conditioner vent.

The vent was less than 30 centimetres wide, and authorities said Darryl Layne Norris had been losing weight since arriving at the Waller County Jail in April.

Waller County Sheriff Randy Smith said the jail noticed the 6-foot, 160-pound man was missing after performing a routine head count.

Norris and another man are charged with murder in connection with an April 17 convenience store robbery. Smith didn't know if Norris was armed but considered him dangerous.

The Texas Rangers are assisting in the search.

Hempstead is about 80 kilometres northwest of Houston.

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