Escaped Ark. convicts thought to be in Southeast Missouri

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- Authorities on Monday continued to look in Southeast Missouri for two convicted killers who escaped from the Cummins Unit in Grady.

Jeffrey Grinder, 32, and Calvin Adams, 39, were convicted of capital murder and were serving life sentences. Correction Department spokeswoman Dina Tyler says the men were spotted Saturday in two Southeast Missouri communities, Hayti and Braggadocio.

Tyler says Adams has relatives in the area and there is no reason to believe the men have moved on. She said the sightings are "valid," and other sightings in Arkansas and Texas have been discounted.

"We still think the probability is they are in the (Southeast Missouri) area," Tyler said Monday.

Grinder and Adams are believed to be traveling together. Tyler said Adams know the Southeast Missouri region.

"They could have slipped past us, but we are holding our ground there," Tyler said.

The two worked in prison making uniforms for jail guards and law officers. Grinder and Adams walked out of the high-security lockup unchallenged while wearing guard uniforms.

Authorities said Adams and Grinder had a car waiting for them outside the prison gates.

Tyler said the agency is investigating how the prisoners got the uniforms.

"We know that they used officer uniforms and they walked out the front," Tyler said. "We don't know where the uniforms came from, but the suspect has to be the garment factory."

Tyler said those questions would be answered by the investigation but the department is focusing on capturing Adams and Grinder.

Adams is from Leachville and was convicted of capital murder in 1995 in the 1994, kidnapping and shooting death of banker Richard Austin, 25. Austin's wife was wounded and was able to walk more than a mile for help. Grinder is from Yellville and was convicted of capital murder, aggravated robbery and burglary in the 2003 beating death of Pat Gardner, 77, who lived near Springdale.

Tyler said investigators are still trying to develop information that could lead them to the fugitives. Anyone who knows where Adams and Grinder may be is asked to call authorities.