Police believe 2 men at large after escaping from private prison are in Arizona

Police: 2 inmates at large believed to be in Ariz.

PHOENIX — Police believe the two men who remain at large after escaping from a northwest Arizona prison have not left the state.

Arizona Department of Corrections Director Charles Ryan says information gathered by law enforcement suggests Tracy Province and John McCluskey are in Arizona and are traveling together in a silver Volkswagen Jetta along with a woman suspected of helping in the escape.

A third escaped convict was captured early Sunday in western Colorado.

Authorities say 36-year-old Daniel Renwick was caught after a police pursuit ended in Rifle, Colo., about 670 miles from the Arizona State Prison in Golden Valley.

Renwick was serving 22 years for second-degree murder when he and the other two inmates escaped Friday evening by cutting a hole in a perimeter fence.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

PHOENIX (AP) — Police believe the two men who remain at large after escaping from a northwest Arizona prison are traveling together in a silver Volkswagen Jetta.

Police are searching for the two convicted murderers after catching a third escaped convict early Sunday in western Colorado. Arizona Department of Corrections spokesman Barrett Marson said Daniel Renwick, 36, was caught after a police pursuit ended in Rifle, Colo., about 670 miles from the Arizona State Prison in Golden Valley.

Renwick was serving 22 years for second-degree murder when he and the other two inmates escaped Friday evening by cutting a hole in a perimeter fence.

Marson said the other two — Tracy Province, 42, and John McCluskey, 45 — should be considered dangerous. They are believed to be traveling with a woman suspected of helping in the escape.

Authorities believe they’re in a silver, four-door Volkswagen Jetta with the Arizona license plate 334 VAN. Police say the men bought the car, but they didn’t say how or where.

Province was serving a life sentence for murder and robbery, and McCluskey was serving 15 years for second-degree murder, aggravated assault and discharge of a firearm.

Marson said the two are believed to be with Casslyn Mae Welch, 44, who is suspected of aiding in the escape.

According to Flagstaff police Sgt. James Jackson, at about 5 a.m. Saturday, the group kidnapped two drivers of a semi-truck in Kingman and forced them at gunpoint to drive two hours east to Flagstaff.

The group left the drivers, unharmed, in the truck at a stop just off Interstate 40 and then fled. Police spent much of Saturday using helicopters and dogs to search for the men.

Authorities urged anyone with information to use caution and call police immediately.