Two inmates who escaped from the Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage have been recaptured.Rockford, Illinois, police said said Thomas Deering, 46, and James Newman, 37, were found at Miss Carly’s, a Rockford homeless shelter.They escaped from the maximum security facility around 5 a.m. Thursday. Video from News Chopper 12 showed clothing items left on barbed-wire perimeter fences at the prison.The Columbia County Sheriff's Office said a woman who works in the prison kitchen helped them escape. She has been arrested and could be charged with being party to a crime. According to court records, Deering was convicted in Milwaukee County in 2000 on multiple counts of second-degree sexual assault, kidnapping and burglary. Deering was also convicted of trying to escape in 2002 and battery in prison in 2015.Court records show Newman was convicted of kidnapping, theft and escape in 2012 in Jackson County. Newman was also convicted of six charges of discharging a firearm in 2009 in Brown County.Officials urged people in the area to stay home and lock their doors because they were considered dangerous. Investigators said the two hailed a taxi at a hotel and got a ride to Poynette, about 17 miles away.They had not been seen since.The FBI is among the multiple agencies involved with the search.

Two inmates who escaped from the Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage have been recaptured.

Rockford, Illinois, police said said Thomas Deering, 46, and James Newman, 37, were found at Miss Carly’s, a Rockford homeless shelter.


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Both escaped inmates from the Columbia Correctional Facility in Portage, WI are now in custody. They arrived at Miss Carly’s and were recognized from their posted pictures. More details to follow. #rockfordilpolicedepartment — RockfordILPolice (@RockfordPD) April 17, 2020

They escaped from the maximum security facility around 5 a.m. Thursday.



Video from News Chopper 12 showed clothing items left on barbed-wire perimeter fences at the prison.

The Columbia County Sheriff's Office said a woman who works in the prison kitchen helped them escape.

She has been arrested and could be charged with being party to a crime.



According to court records, Deering was convicted in Milwaukee County in 2000 on multiple counts of second-degree sexual assault, kidnapping and burglary.

Deering was also convicted of trying to escape in 2002 and battery in prison in 2015.

Court records show Newman was convicted of kidnapping, theft and escape in 2012 in Jackson County.

Newman was also convicted of six charges of discharging a firearm in 2009 in Brown County.

Officials urged people in the area to stay home and lock their doors because they were considered dangerous.

Investigators said the two hailed a taxi at a hotel and got a ride to Poynette, about 17 miles away.

They had not been seen since.

The FBI is among the multiple agencies involved with the search.