Ozark County inmate captured shortly after jailbreak assisted by fellow prisoner

wireready_09-03-2020-16-10-05_00022_robertabbottozarkcounty

Photo: Robert Abbott

An Ozark County inmate, 45-year-old Robert Abbott of Koshkonong, was reportedly found hiding in an outbuilding near a Gainesville resident’s home on County Road 806 about a half hour, after he allegedly escaped from the nearby Ozark County jail last Friday afternoon.

Abbott, who is facing dozens of felony charges, including several connected to a four-day crime spree last month when he allegedly stole at least six vehicles and several guns, is now facing an additional felony count of escaping from confinement.

The Ozark County Times reports he is being held without bond. A bond-reduction hearing has been set for Sept. 10.

According to the probable cause statement, a jail administrator alerted sheriff’s deputy Cpl. Curtis Dobbs of the escape shortly after 2.

When he did not locate Abbott on the jail grounds, Dobbs began searching west on County Road 806, which runs in front of the facility.

He reported observing from the roadway a person wearing blue jeans without a shirt peering from within a garage near Westridge Apartments.

Dobbs and Chief Deputy Winston Collins were unable to locate Abbott in the garage. Dobbs then contacted nearby residents to see if they had spotted the escapee.

Dobbs reported while speaking with a resident, he noticed a door to an exterior building was locked. The resident advised the door is normally open.

Inside the building, Dobbs saw what appeared to be a person covered with a blanket. Dobbs said he gave Abbott loud verbal commands, and the escapee moved under the blanket. Dobbs deployed his taser, hitting Abbott, before placing him in handcuffs.

The sheriff’s call log shows a County Road 806 resident reported “someone in shorts and sock feet ran through his yard” at 2:04 p.m., and by 2:35 p.m., officers had caught Abbott…”

A nearby resident reportedly had told Dobbs a pair of blue jeans had been stolen from an outdoor clothesline after Abbott’s escape. Abbott was reportedly wearing the same jeans when he was arrested.

After recapturing Abbott, Dobbs inspected the recreation yard at the jail for damage and “discovered a hole in the southwest corner of the fencing,” he wrote. “It appeared the hole was caused by tampering with the wiring of the fence. The hole was large enough in size for a point of escape.” A review of security camera footage confirmed his suspicion.

Officers with the Ozark County Sheriff’s Office say the video footage shows Abbott was aided by fellow prisoner Christopher Davis.



Photo: Christopher Davis

Davis is charged with a felony count of aiding the escape of a prisoner confined.

If convicted of the Class B felony, Davis would be sentenced to five to 15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. Abbott only faces up to four years in prison or one year in jail for the Class E felony of escaping.

WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI