"America's Most Wanted" highlights escape case

Archive for Thursday, February 16, 2006

February 16, 2006

The search for escaped murderer John M. Manard is getting a boost from "America's Most Wanted."

The Fox-TV show's Website, amw.com, is highilighting Manard's escape. The Web site profiles the case and includes information about Toby Young, the prison volunteer thought to be accompanying Manard. The site includes previously unreleased photos of Manard's tattoos.

Manard, 27, escaped Sunday from the Lansing Correctional Facility, allegedly with the help of Young, president of the Safe Harbor Prison Dogs program, which receives dogs from shelters across northeast Kansas and matches them with inmates who feed, groom and socialize the dogs to improve their chances of being placed in a new home. More than 900 dogs have been adopted through the program.

Manard, a participant in the program, is believed to have been smuggled into the Safe Harbor van in a dog crate and then driven out of the prison by Young.

The van, registered to Young, was found Tuesday in a storage facility in Bonner Springs.

Authorities believe Manard and Young could be traveling in 1998-2000 gunpowder blue Chevrolet sport utility vehicle. They also believe Young purchased black or dark brown hair dye and an electric razor prior to the escape, possibly to alter either her or Manard's appearance.

WDAF, the Fox affiliate in Kansas City, reported that if Young and Manard were not captured by this weekend, "America's Most Wanted" could have a crew in the area by next weekend. "America's Most Wanted" airs at 8 p.m. Saturdays on Fox.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact their local law enforcement agency or the Lansing Correctional Facility, (913) 727-3235.