Advertisement Accused killer takes guard hostage, escapes from Warren County Jail Authorities search for Rafeal McCloud Share Shares Copy Link Copy

U.S. marshals have been called in to help find an accused killer who escaped from the Warren County Jail.Marshals, Warren County deputies and Vicksburg police searched through the night Wednesday for Rafeal McCloud. Sheriff Martin Pace said they won't stop until they find him."We're going to continue to operate under the premise that he is in Vicksburg until we have verifiable information that he is no longer here," Pace said.Pace said McCloud, 33, used a homemade shank to take a jailer hostage at about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday on the second floor of the jail. McCloud forced the guard to take off his green pants and black jacket, then McCloud put them on, walked downstairs, used the guard's keys to unlock the door and walked outside through the south entrance to the jail, Pace said.McCloud's pants were found Thursday and investigators said that he has likely taken off the jacket, as well. His orange jail-issued flip-flops were found not far from the back door of the jail, along with the guard’s keys and radio, Pace said."At this point, we don't know whether this was a personnel error, or whether he managed to manipulate something within the facility," Pace said.McCloud is considered armed and dangerous, Pace said.Vicksburg police have asked residents to make sure their homes and vehicles are secure."Remove any weapons from your vehicle into your home for safekeeping," Chief Walter Armstrong said in a news release. "Also, when arriving home, if you notice that your home has been burglarized, do not enter. Call 911 immediately."K-9 units and extra deputies were called in Wednesday to help with the search. Some schools were on lockdown as a precaution, Vicksburg-Warren School District Superintendent Chad Shealy said.Vicksburg Catholic School executed similar measures."We have no reason to believe that he would have any reason to go to any of the schools, but out of due caution, we notified them immediately," Pace said. McCloud is charged with capital murder, sexual battery, rape, arson, home invasion, being a felon in possession of a firearm and grand larceny auto theft, records show. He is accused in the kidnapping and death of Sharen Wilson, 69, whose body was found by ghost hunters last July behind the abandoned Kuhn Memorial State Hospital in Vicksburg, authorities said. Wilson had been hit in the head and beaten, investigators said.Anyone with information about McCloud’s whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 601-355-TIPS.Download the WAPT App to receive breaking news alerts.22758298