Man who escaped area jail captured

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Freedom for a Butler County jail trusty who ran from a work detail Friday was relatively short-lived. Richard Matthew Trice, 23, was arrested about midnight, slightly more that 12 hours after his escape.

Trice was arrested without incident near one of his relatives' homes in Neelyville, Mo., said Scott Wiggs, assistant chief deputy sheriff for Butler County.

Two women were arrested by Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs in connection with Trice's disappearance. Both women knew Trice was an escapee but did nothing to notify authorities about his whereabouts, Wiggs said

Amy Lynn Meeks, 24, of Neelyville was arrested Friday on suspicion of hindering prosecution.

Christy Marie Jones, 30, of Doniphan, Mo., was arrested Saturday on suspicion of hindering prosecution and aiding the escape of a prisoner.

When arrested, Trice was a passenger in Jones' car, Wiggs said.

Originally, Trice faced charges of robbery and armed criminal action, Wiggs said. Now authorities will seek escape from custody charges against him.

Trice, who had been a jail trusty for several months, was loading food carts on a truck at the back door of the justice center about 6 a.m. Friday when he "jumped over the rail and ran," Dobbs said.

Dobbs said those prisoners are who are chosen as trusties are "least likely to be a danger to society."