Authorities still search for escaped prisoners

(McAlester-AP) -- Authorities say they've received no reports of new sightings of a murderer and a kidnapper who broke out of the State Penitentiary at McAlester.

James Robert Thomas and Willie Lee Hoffman was last seen about 9 yesterday morning when they confronted two women at a recreation club about two miles from the penitentiary.

Prison spokeswoman Lee Mann says authorities believe the two are still driving the white, 1995 Oldsmobile they stole from one of the women. The car's license plate number is P-I-J-0-7-4.

Mann says authorities are hoping the public will be vigilant and cautious, and report any sightings to police.

Prison officials say the two could be dangerous and desperate.

The escape is the first from the high security prison that opened in 1991 and houses almost 300 of the prison system's most violent criminals.

The unit is also home to the state's execution chamber, where the third of eight executions scheduled over four weeks is to take place tonight.