Story highlights Sheriff: The correctional officer is in intensive care after being beaten, choked

It appears "somebody didn't do their job properly," sheriff says after the escape

Kamron Taylor also tried to escape a courtroom after being convicted of murder in February

(CNN) Just over a month ago, Kamron Taylor sat in an Illinois courtroom to hear a jury convict him of murder.

Early Wednesday morning, Taylor sat in an Illinois jail. Hiding outside his cell. Ready to pounce.

When he did, his victim was a correctional officer making his rounds, according to Kankakee County Sheriff Timothy Bukowski. Taylor beat up the guard, put on his uniform and took his keys.

He then walked out of the jail's door and into the officer's brown 2012 Chevrolet Equinox SUV.

Where the 23-year-old, who was set to be sentenced in May, is now is anybody's guess. The Equinox was discovered around 8:30 a.m. (9:30 a.m. ET) in Kankakee, but without any sign of the convicted murderer who drove it.

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