close

Escaped Greene County inmate apprehended

By Jon Stevens, For The Greene County Messenger 2 min read
1 / 2

Vanessa Hanlan

2 / 2

Waylon Hanlan

WAYNESBURG — State police reported that they have arrested an inmate who escaped from the Greene County Jail Sunday with the help of his sister.

The Associated Press reported that a state police helicopter spotted 27-year-old Waylon Hodge Hanlan on Tuesday afternoon riding in a Honda Civic in Dunkard Township with his two brothers. Hanlan was taken into custody following a brief foot chase. One of the brothers was also arrested, but the other is still at large.

Hanlan was arraigned on escape charges Tuesday and was returned to the Greene County Jail, the AP reports.

Greene County District Attorney Marjorie Fox said Wednesday that her office “commends the Pennsylvania State Police and the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office (who assisted in Hanlan’s apprehension) for their extraordinary efforts in apprehending this fugitive and in always working to keep our communities safe.”

State police Trooper Matt Jardine said Hanlan fled from the Franklin Township facility by climbing a fence and running into the woods just before 8 p.m. Sunday.

Jardine said Hanlan then got into a car driven by his sister, Vanessa Hanlan, 23, and the two left the area, police said. Jardine said Vanessa Hanlan took her brother to a home where he changed out of jail garb and gave him keys to a car.

Waylon Hanlan has been in jail since Dec. 11 on a probation violation for simple assault and eluding police.

Meanwhile, Vanessa Hanlan was arraigned Monday on charges of hindering apprehension and conspiracy to commit escape, Jardine said.

Greene County Jail Warden Harry Gillispie said the jail was placed on lockdown until 7 a.m. Monday.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $4.79/week.

Subscribe Today