Criminal, internal investigations underway into Ohio prison escape of school shooter, 2 others

LIMA, Ohio (AP) – Criminal and internal investigations are underway to determine how a convicted killer of three Ohio high school students managed to escape from prison, along with two other inmates, state correction officials say.

Outside experts also will review procedures of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and recommend possible improvements, the agency said.

Authorities say the three inmates, including school shooter T.J. Lane, escaped from prison in Lima in northwestern Ohio on Thursday night by scaling a fence, which immediately sounded an alarm.

All three were back in custody by Friday morning, and officials said they were transferred to a high-security prison in Youngstown on the other side of the state.

The union representing prison guards said authorities were alerted to an escape plan Wednesday and segregated an inmate from the same unit as the escapees. But prisons spokeswoman JoEllen Smith said that inmate had nothing to do with Thursday’s escape.