Mississippi County inmate escapees recaptured

9:02 AM, Jul 29, 2012   |    comments
Inmate Danny Rankins is recaptured.
  • Share
  • Email
  • Print
  • - A A A +
  • FILED UNDER

BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. (AP) - Two escapees from an Arkansas Department of Correction work-release center have been recaptured.

Department spokeswoman Shea  Wilson said Saturday that 46-year-old Danny Rankins was recaptured Saturday in Liberal, Kan., and 42-year-old John Laxton Jr. was arrested Friday night between Loveland and Denver, Colo.

Wilson did not have details of the arrests - but said both were taken into custody without incident after being spotted on various store videos in Oklahoma.

Wilson says investigators believe the two were picked up from separate work-release sites in Blytheville on July 18 by a woman. Wilson said a woman with Laxton when he was arrested was also arrested - but has not been charged.

Laxton was serving a 20-year sentence for theft while Rankins was serving a 20-year term for drug convictions.