A man being held at the Baltimore County Detention Center escaped from a work site Monday ? only minutes afterofficials learned he?d been charged with murder.
Inmate Billy Martin, 25, of Conowingo, was working at the county?s Cockeysville landfill when he was able to “walk away” without detection by jail guards around 6:30 p.m., said James O?Neill, administrator of the Baltimore County Department of Corrections.
Martin was serving a six-month sentence for misdemeanor theft less than $500 and was not considered an escape risk, O?Neill said.
But jail officials were informed at 6:15 p.m. Monday that a Cecil County grand jury had indicted Martin on a charge of second-degree murder for the 2006 killing of his 5-month-old son, Calob Martin, according to O?Neill and Baltimore County police.
Martin was working on a 3 to 11 p.m. shift when he escaped.
“Certainly until about 6:15 last night, we had no reason to believe Mr. Martin was a risk,” O?Neill said Tuesday.
Jail officials have obtained a warrant for Martin?s arrest, while both state and Baltimore County police search for him.
Martin is described as a white male, 6-foot-1, 160 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.
Police ask that anyone with information about Martin?s location to call Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7-LOCKUP. Callers can remain anonymous and might be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.
