The community of Chardon, Ohio, was thrown into fear and disbelief on Thursday evening after TJ Lane, the teenager who shot dead three students in a school cafeteria in 2012, briefly escaped from prison nearly 200 miles away. Lane, 19, scaled a perimeter fence at Allen Oakwood Correctional Institution in Lima during recreational time and remained at large for five and a half hours before being recaptured.
Police quickly moved to guard the homes of the victims' families, including Dina Parmertor, mother of 16-year-old Daniel Parmertor. 'I'm extremely scared and panic stricken,' she told the Associated Press. The escape prompted the cancellation of Friday's classes in Chardon, with counselling sessions offered to students and staff. Superintendent Michael Hanlon described the hours as 'very difficult' and acknowledged the 'undeniable, profound and deep impact' on the community.
Lane was found about 100 yards from the prison, outside a church off Bluelick Road, holding a pitchfork. He was apprehended without incident by two state troopers from a special response team. Prison warden Kevin Jones confirmed that Lane 'never made any comment at all' during the capture. Two other inmates, Lindsey Bruce and Clifford Opperud, also escaped; Bruce was caught within minutes, while Opperud was recaptured three hours later.
The escape raised questions about why a triple murderer was held at a minimum- and medium-security facility. Jones said the matter would be reviewed. Lane is serving three consecutive life sentences for the murders of Demetrius Hewlin, 16, Russell King, 17, and Daniel Parmertor, 16, at Chardon High School in February 2012. At his sentencing, he taunted the victims' families, removing his shirt to display a t-shirt reading 'KILLER' and smirking throughout the proceedings.
