Human error blamed for W.Va. prison escape attempt - WVVA TV Bluefield Beckley WV News, Weather and Sports

Human error blamed for W.Va. prison escape attempt

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- A botched head count preceded the recent escape attempt by three convicted murderers at West Virginia's maximum security prison.

Corrections Commissioner Jim Rubenstein told legislators on Monday that human error played a role in last week's incident at Mount Olive Correctional Complex.

Rubenstein said a 10 p.m. head count on July 17 failed to reveal that William Keith "Bobby" Lowe, Daniel Smith and Stephen Wilson weren't in their units.

The commissioner said officers didn't discover they were missing until a final 11:30 p.m. head count.

Rubenstein said the inmates were then located and captured on the 82-acre complex within about 15 minutes. He stressed to lawmakers that the three did not breach any outer security measures and the nearby community was never in danger.

An internal investigation is ongoing.

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