Update: Kevin Witt was found Thursday night in Cayuga County, about 30 miles north of where he escaped in Willard.
Original Story:
ITHACA, N.Y.—State police did not find a man who escaped from a correctional drug treatment facility after a search of the Taughannock Boulevard area Thursday afternoon.
Kevin Witt, a 29 year-old man, escaped from a work detail at the Willard Drug Treatment Campus in Seneca County on Monday, Nov. 9. He is described as a white man with medium build and 5’9” tall.
A team of about 50 troopers from the New York State Police fanned out along the road in search of Witt as of at least 2:30 p.m. Members of the Corrections Emergency Response Team were also present. By 3 p.m., the search had concluded without locating Witt.
Trooper Mark O’Donnell of the State Police said that Witt hasn’t been classified as “dangerous” and that he had heard no actual sightings of Witt in the area. O’Donnell said the search was based on “information that had been developed” and initial reports of his escape indicated that he was thought to be heading to the Tompkins County or Ithaca area. Police were also seen searching the St. John’s Community Services homeless shelter on West State Street.
Police have asked county residents to “stay alert.” According to police, Witt had been sentenced to 3-6 years incarceration for a felony criminal mischief conviction.