Escapee from Dunklin County jail re-captured in Poplar Bluff

Daily American Republic

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Three days after allegedly escaping from the Dunklin County Jail, a local man is back behind bars after authorities found him hiding in a Poplar Bluff home, dressed as a woman.

Milton Roy Taylor, 35, had been on the run since his alleged escape from the jail's exercise yard at about 1:30 p.m. Saturday with the help of fellow inmates.

"He was able to pull back some security wire with the assistance of two other inmates," said Dunklin County Sheriff Bob Holder.

"He was able to get from the secured perimeter over the area where the air-conditioning is and from there, he was able to gain access to the outside."

Holder said officers "just started working from there. We were able to track him to Malden."

According to Holder, officers checked a couple of houses in Malden looking for Taylor who allegedly had caught a ride to Poplar Bluff.

Acting on information they had received, officers with the Poplar Bluff Police Department went to a residence in the 1000 block of Stella Street at about 4 p.m. Tuesday.

"We received information that Taylor was there in the area and was seen wearing a blue denim dress and hair extensions, dressed as a female," said police Lt. Paul Clark.

A search of the residence revealed Taylor allegedly hiding in a bedroom closet.

At the request of Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Steve Sokoloff, the court granted holding Taylor without bond on the escape charge.

"We appreciated all the help of Butler County and Poplar Bluff city" in apprehending Taylor, Holder who described both Heaton and Police Chief Danny Whiteley as friends of his.

"Both of them and their departments were extremely helpful," he said. "They were very cooperative and easy to work with.

"... Law enforcement, especially in Southeast Missouri, are very cooperative with each other. People living in the area don't realize how cooperative we are down here."

According to Holder, Taylor "couldn't have done it escape by himself. They were able to pull the wire back and assist him in getting over some wire."

Holder said Taylor allegedly escaped out of an entrance way that was about 4-foot by 8-foot.

"They were able to get out to that entrance" which is where Taylor allegedly escaped from, said Holder who suspects the inmates had allegedly been working on the fence for some time.

Holder said he is waiting on charges to be filed against the inmates who allegedly helped Taylor.

"I don't have the charges back yet," Holder said. "They were going to be here for a while.

"They weren't the priority. He was our priority."

Wednesday morning, Holder was out working on the fence. "We've got our fence put back together out there," he said. "We're in good shape."

At the time of his alleged escape, Taylor was being held in the Kennett jail after he was charged in Dunklin County in April with second-degree drug trafficking.

Taylor's bond was initially set at $50,000. He reportedly filed a motion for a reduction in the bond, which was granted. The bond was reduced to $30,000.

Taylor reportedly filed a second motion for reduction in bond; however, it was denied by the court.

According to court records, Taylor is supposed to appear at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 14 before Presiding Circuit Judge Stephen Sharp.

"It's my understanding that at the time this occurred, there were some plea negotiations going on" between Sokoloff's office and Taylor's attorney, he said.

" ... Those aren't going to be around anymore."

At the time of his Dunklin County arrest, Taylor was out on bond on a murder charge from Butler County.

He is charged with first-degree murder and in the alternative felony murder in connection with the shooting death of Charles "Gene" Kinney, 55.

Kinney's body was found Nov. 13, 2000, by firefighters in the charred remains of his home on County Road 329. An autopsy determined he had been shot in the head and that he was dead before the fire started.

Taylor is to stand trial Nov. 20-22 in Pulaski County before Presiding Circuit Judge Dennis Long. Taylor's alleged accomplice, Michael Todd Estes, 34, pleaded guilty as charged to the Class A felony of first-degree murder in September.

Estes was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of probation or parole.