Two inmates escape from Missouri jail

Two men accused of murder or assault have escaped from a Missouri jail and are being sought by police.

William Carter, 27, of Kennett, Missouri, and Joseph Latamondeer, 41, of East Prairie, Missouri, escaped from the Pemiscot County Justice Center early Sunday. The men allegedly escaped through an air duct in a shower stall and jumped a fence at the jail near Caruthersville, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and were last seen running toward the Mississippi River.

Carter is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, alleging that he ran over his estranged wife, Heather Hampton Carter, and another man, Aaron Campbell.

Latmondeer is charged with brutally beating a woman, breaking her ribs, biting and punching her repeatedly. The woman also allegedly had cigarette burns on her back and chest and bruising on her face, arms, torso and legs, 16 bite marks and eight broken ribs. She was hospitalized with kidney failure and a bruised heart from the assault, police said.

Searches are underway by air, ground, foot, boat and four-wheeler, according to KMOV. Residents are asked to make sure outbuildings and vehicles are locked.

If seen, people are advised not to approach the men, who are considered armed and dangerous. Instead, please call 911 or 573-333-4101. Authorities advised that the men are now likely to be charged with escape, and anyone offering them assistance also can be charged.

This story was originally published October 16, 2017 at 3:35 PM with the headline "Two inmates escape from Missouri jail."