Escapee Captured Additional Arrests

ATHENS, Tenn. - An inmate who escaped from the Northeast Correctional Complex Annex in Carter County was apprehended several hours after his escape.  Randy Hicks escaped through a window at the annex on April 4, 2008 sometime between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.

At 8:05 p.m., Hicks was taken into custody at a farmhouse in Athens, TN by a multi-jurisdictional task force comprised of TDOC and TBI agents, as well as local and federal law enforcement agencies.

Hicks was transported to the Brushy Mountain Correctional Complex where he was placed in segregation pending disciplinary and felony escape charges.  TDOC agents also charged Hicks’ sister-in-law Carolyn Hicks, her daughter Tabitha Ferguson and friend James Franks with facilitating the escape.  All three have been charged with aiding and abetting, obstruction of justice, providing implements for escape and criminal conspiracy.

Inmate Randy Hicks was reported missing when staff noticed he was not at his scheduled worksite.  Hicks worked as a custodian at the annex.  His convictions include contraband in a penal facility, facilitation to first degree murder and escape.