$25,000 reward in search for inmates who fled Santa Clara County courthouse

Authorities are offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of two inmates who brazenly escaped from a Silicon Valley courthouse.|
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

PALO ALTO - Authorities are offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of two inmates who brazenly escaped from a Silicon Valley courthouse.

The East Bay Times reports Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith approved the reward on Wednesday.

An intensive search continues for 46-year-old Tramel McClough and 47-year-old John Bivins, who reportedly used a smuggled key to get out of their restraints and then eluded deputies Monday at the Palo Alto courthouse.

Authorities say they may have left the state.

The inmates were in shackles and being escorted by a deputy through a public hallway when they bolted through an emergency exit and ran outside to a waiting car.

They abandoned the car a few blocks away and fled in the van. Their shackles and a handcuff key were found nearby.

Officials have arrested two people suspected of helping them.

UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy:
  • This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone.
  • No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. No off-topic remarks.
  • No disinformation about current events.
  • We will remove any comments — or commenters — that do not follow this commenting policy.
Send a letter to the editor