A sheriff overseeing the manhunt for an Illinois murder convict is linking his escape to recent budget and staffing cuts at the jail where he was awaiting sentencing.
Kankakee County Sheriff Timothy Bukowski told reporters Thursday that the Jerome Combs Detention Center has lost between 15% and 20% of staff.
He said inmates notice that and can see that guards working double shifts are tired. Bukowski said that was among the factors that contributed to Wednesday's escape.
Meanwhile, law enforcement officers armed with rifles are searching homes throughout the county as they follow up leads from the public.
But there is still no sign of Kamron T. Taylor. The 23-year-old escaped after beating a guard unconscious and using his uniform to fool other guards into letting him out.
