The Illinois Department of Corrections has announced its intentions to pursue criminal charges against 21 year old Marcus Battice through the Fayette County State’s Attorney. Battice escaped from the Vandalia Correctional Center Tuesday afternoon and was captured Wednesday morning about 3.5 miles from the prison on a frontage road near I-70.
Conviction would result in an additional prison sentence. Battice was eligible for parole in less than four months. IDOC officials note it is highly unusual, anywhere in the United States, for minimum-security offenders to attempt escape so close to their parole date. Battice was serving a sentence for illegal possession of a stolen vehicle.
Battice was still wearing his prison uniform when he was recaptured and was taken into custody without incident. He was transported back to the Vandalia prison where he was given a health exam and transferred to the maximum security prison in Pontiac, Illinois where he will be held apart from the general population as an escapee according to an IDOC spokesperson.
Over 12 local and state agencies were involved in the search, including an ATV from the Greenville Fire Protection District and a portable light tower from the Mulberry Grove Fire Protection District. Four canine units were also used during the search.
