William Barefoot escaped from the Hoke County jail in Raeford Monday morning and drove to Aberdeen in Moore County, where he fled on foot. Law enforcement officials feel confident that they will find him.
"We are going to focus on trying to get this guy behind bars. We've got a situation that we have to deal with," said Hoke County Sheriff Hubert Peterkin.
Teams work around the clock using bloodhounds and checkpoints. They believe Barefoot is still in the area, possibly in the woods. Some believe it brings back memories of 3-1/2 years ago.
In 2001, officers suspected Barefoot and another man in a string of burglaries. During the investigation, Catherine Warwick said she saw the men fleeing her house.
"He shot. I saw the dirt splatter in front of the car in front of me," Warwick said in an April 2001 interview.
Warwick called 911. Maj. Dan Scamperle eventually caught up with the men, but they shot him, left him for dead and ran into the woods.
"I had to do whatever I could to try to stay alive. With a little bit of help from the man upstairs, I survived," Scamperle said in a May 2001 interview.
Three days later, the suspects turned themselves in. Now, once again, officers find themselves searching for Barefoot. Authorities said the jailer who was overpowered by Barefoot and had her car stolen was given the day off and is not commenting on the case.
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