|
|
| |
| |
Criminal Records - Most Wanted |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Profile |
|
| |
Name: Otis Blunt
|
|
| |
Race: Black |
|
| |
Age Now: 33 |
|
| |
Height: 5'9" |
|
| |
Weight: 160 lbs. |
|
| |
Hair (Color, Description, Facial Hair): Black |
|
| |
Eyes (Color and Correction): Brown |
|
| |
Wanted for :
Escape, Elizabeth, NJ;
Dec 15, 2007
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Location(s) |
|
| |
Last Seen : Elizabeth, NJ
Cops say Blunt was last seen in the Union County Jail on December 15, 2007 sometime before 5:00 p.m. |
|
| |
Possible Location : New Jersey |
|
| |
Last Known : Elizabeth, NJ
Cops say Blunt was being temporarily housed at the Union County Jail while awaiting trial. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Traits |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Case Story |
|
| |
Civil Rights Leader Leaves Mexico Without A Surrender |
|
| |
The day after Otis Blunt appeared on AMW, authorities say he contacted a prominent civil rights leader for help. Rev. Al Sharpton says he received a request from a close friend of Blunt's to help the escapee surrender safely to police in New Jersey.
In a statement to authorities, Sharpton said, "I have been asked by them to help facilitate his safe surrender. I have contacted law enforcement to see if I can be helpful towards that end."
Rev. Sharpton had the best of intentions when he traveled all the way to Mexico City to help with the arrest. Rev. Sharpton claims he spoke to Blunt over the phone on Tuesday, and was reassured that the escapee would surrender. When it came time to deliver, Rev. Sharpton says he didn't hear from Blunt again. After waiting several hours, Rev. Sharpton was forced to pack his bags and return to Florida. Rev. Shaprton left with the message for Blunt to turn himself in to authorities immediately.
Jail Break
Union County, N.J. investigators say an escape plot worthy of a Hollywood movie was carried out on December 15, 2007 by two inmates at the Union County Jail.
According to police, 32-year-old Otis Blunt and 20-year-old Jose Espinosa were housed in cells right next to one another. Cops say the two had little in common -- except their shared goal of busting out of jail. Together, they made good on an elaborate scheme to break out and make a run for it. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Extreme Scheme |
|
| |
Cops say Blunt and Espinosa used an unknown tool to remove a cement cinder block measuring approximately 8 inches high and 16 inches long from the wall separating their cells. Meanwhile, cops say Espinosa removed a similarly sized block next to the window on his wall facing outside. Cops think Blunt squeezed through the hole between the cells to get to Espinosa's cell, and then the two men worked their way through the hole in the outside wall. Once they were through, cops believe the men jumped to a rooftop below --before taking an amazing 25-foot leap over a razor-lined fence. Police say the fence itself was 25 feet high, and 25 feet from the roof's edge.
And not only was their escape daring -- cops say the men fancied themselves crafty as well. According to cops, the men fashioned dummies made of bed sheets and covered them with blankets. To hide the holes they'd made in the walls, cops say they posted magazine photos of bikini-clad women.
Police say the dummies in their beds were enough to trick guards at first. It wasn't until 5:00 p.m. that Espinosa and Blunt were found to be missing from their cells.
Canine cops were able to pick up the men's scents from the spot where the men landed on the ground. According to police, there's evidence the men split up after landing. Cops do not know if the men met up again later, or if they are on the run separately.
Police say Espinosa and Blunt should be considered dangerous. Cops say Blunt was being held on weapons charges in connection with a 2005 murder.
Espinosa was in Union County Jail awaiting a 17-year prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to Aggravated Manslaughter. Cops say the manslaughter charge stemmed from the August 2005 shooting of a man in Elizabeth, N.J. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
New Jersey Corrections Officer Commits Suicide |
|
| |
The corrections officer whose name appeared in a prison note left behind by two New Jersey escapees was found dead Wednesday.
Rudolph Zurick died of a self inflicted gunshot wound, authorities say.
Sayreville Police found his body in the basement of his New Jersey home Wednesday morning and believe Zurick shot himself with his personal semi automatic handgun.
Zurick's death comes at a puzzling time for Union County Police who are still trying to determine how two prison inmates Otis Blunt and Jose Espinoza orchestrated a daring escape from the Union County Jail last month. Investigators found a mocking note from the inmates that thanked Zurick for the tools used to escape.
Although Zurick has not been charged with any wrong doing he was supposed to meet with investigators for a routine interview about the jail break on Wednesday.
Zurick is survived by his wife Lisa and their 4-year-old daughter. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
| |
|
|