ABERDEEN, N.C. — Authorities said a person may have seen a Hoke County Jail escapee in the woods of Moore County.

State troopers scouted the area from above Thursday while officers formed a perimeter on the ground in their search for William Barefoot. Barefoot broke out of the Hoke County Jail Monday.

Despite the presence of law enforcement in the area, residents continue to live on edge. Wanda Banks said as long as Barefoot is on the run, her family is not trick-or-treating.

"I usually don't lock both locks, but everything is locked. Even the garage door on the back, I have it locked because I'm very concerned," Banks said.

Schools in the area are also bolting their doors.

"We've sort of been in a modified lockdown for the last three days. It seems to work well," school principal Burgin Beale said.

The town usually does not draw much attention, but the manhunt has everyone talking.

"Everybody asks every morning, 'Did they catch him last night?' and every evening when we go home, we watch the news to see, 'Did they get him during the day maybe while we were at work,'" business owner Kim Eyer said.

Barefoot was serving time for shooting a deputy in 2001.