EMINENCE, Mo. — A southeast Missouri man awaiting trial for his wife’s death is on the loose after escaping custody while watching a fireworks display.
KYTV-TV reports 32-year-old Jason McClurg was with nine other inmates outside the Shannon County jail on Friday night when he broke free.
A woman who answered the phone at the sheriff’s office late Saturday afternoon said McClurg had not been taken into custody.
The Winona man was charged in May with first-degree murder for the death of his wife, Stephanie McClurg.
Police say McClurg tried to kill his wife by mixing a prescription medicine with Kool-Aid, but it didn’t work, so he tried again the next day and succeeded.
McClurg is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 7 for a preliminary hearing on the murder charge.