CLARKSON, KY (WAVE) – Kentucky State Police have captured a man who escaped from jail eight months ago.
It was back on November 20, Lonnie Coy was caught on camera walking out of the Hardin County Detention Center. Coy and another inmate, Joshua Nunn, were able to escape by digging a hole in the corner of a fence and crawling out. Days later Nunn was caught, but Coy remained on the run.
"For him being gone for several, several months and not being spotted, I didn't really think he was in the area and to be truthful, I wasn't sure he was still alive," said Danny Allen, Hardin County Jailer.
Allen said at one time, they believed he fled to Colorado, but none of their leads checked out.
Little did investigators know, months later, he would be found just a county over from where he left.
"All the state cops coming in, it was pretty wild," said Homer Riggs, neighbor.
Riggs lives in Grayson County on Cave Lake Road off of KY-88. He watched as Kentucky State Police took Coy into custody after a brief stand off over the weekend.
"I never would have never dreamt that he was wanted or nothing," said Riggs. "He seemed like a nice guy as far as I know, but I really didn't know him."
Police said Coy was hiding out in the Grayson County house for several weeks and neighbors said he was not always alone.
"There was another boy and girl, but I can't remember who they were or nothing," said Riggs.
At the house, investigators discovered two stolen cars, drugs, multiple fake id's, a firearm, and a police scanner. Police said he was also manufacturing meth.
Coy was part of a work detail program and housed in a minimal security setting. He was there, accused of receiving stolen property. Allen says he had about four more years to serve, before he walked out.
"With the escape, I would think, he's probably looking at an excess of 20 years now, if he is found guilty on all these," said Allen.
Coy is charged with escape, manufacturing methamphetamines, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a forged instrument, possession of a controlled substance, receiving stolen property over $10,000, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a police scanner.
Police said it is likely that more charges may be forthcoming on Coy, as well as those that may have harbored him during his time as a fugitive. The investigation is ongoing and they are confident that Coy knowingly received assistance from multiple individuals. When located, they will likely be charged with hindering prosecution/apprehension.
Copyright 2012 WAVE News. All rights reserved.
Lonnie R. Coy (Source: Hardin County Detention Center)
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