Police search for escaped prisoner in Warren County

WRIGHT CITY, Missouri – Overnight in Warren County there was new news of an inmate escape at a rest stop during transport from Nebraska to North Carolina.

Authorities say the prisoner is still at large. The escape occurred at a rest stop near Interstate 70, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP).

A patrol spokesman said the active search in the area was called off for the night at around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.

MSHP identifies the man as 35-year-old Steven Woodson. Authorities say he was wearing a white t-shirt and black pants and had several tattoos on his face, arms and back. Investigators say he also had a colostomy bag.

Police officials said authorities received a call shortly after 8:30 p.m. Monday evening from a private transportation service seeking to transport Woodson from Douglas County, Nebraska, to the Orange County Jail in Hillsboro, North Carolina.

Investigators say Woodson apparently jumped a fence while at the rest area and was last seen running east on Veterans Memorial Parkway in the area.

MSHP, Warren County Sheriff’s deputies and the Warren County Fire Department searched the area for Woodson. Wright City Police also used a tracking dog as part of the search.

The Wright City Police Department will now take charge of this ongoing search.

If you have any relevant information, please contact the police immediately.

Information is still being collected on this ongoing case, including Woodson’s criminal past.