Convicted Tulsa Murderer Escapes From Prison

Tuesday, January 23rd 2007, 10:53 am

By: News On 6

A manhunt continued Tuesday for two Oklahoma prison escapees. The men broke out of the Great Plains Correctional Center in Hinton, about 50 miles west of Oklahoma City, Monday afternoon. Police say they've already committed a series of crimes, and News on 6 reporter Heather Lewin says authorities suspect they are headed for Tulsa.

Prison officials say the two men turned up missing after an afternoon head count. Since their escape police say they've held two women hostage and stolen their cars.

One of the inmates is a convicted killer sentenced to life for a murder he committed in Tulsa when he was 17 years old.

It was November 1988 when a late night Tulsa cab ride turned deadly for the driver. Police say two teenage boys robbed 55-year old Eddie Elmore at gunpoint, one pulled the trigger killing the taxi driver for $30. That boy was convicted of murder and sent to prison for life, where he stayed until Monday when prison officials say Charles McDaniels, now 35, and another inmate, Tony Ellison, cut though a prison yard fence and escaped.

Police say the two broke into a nearby home and terrorized the woman inside.

"He said at one point, 'Now lady, we'll kill you if we have to,' " said victim June Heldermon.

Heldermon says she handed over her purse and car keys, not understanding what was happening.

"At first they were gonna tie me up and leave me on the bed,â€ Heldermon said. â€œHe said lay down there on the bed and I started to lay down and the other guy said, no come on she's gonna go with us."

Police say the two forced Heldermon into her car and drove to Oklahoma City where they broke into another woman's house, punched her in the face, tied up both hostages, covered their mouths with duct tape and left in a different stolen car.

Police say the vehicle McDaniels and Ellison were last known to be driving is a white, 2003 Pontiac Vibe with Oklahoma license plate number FMM 997.

Authorities consider the men dangerous. A witness in McDaniels murder case in 1988 said he shot the cab driver because, quote "He wanted to see what it was like to kill somebody."

If you see Charles McDaniels or Tony Ellison, or the white 2003 Pontiac Vibe call 911.