The Union County Sheriff's Office has arrested a woman employee of the Lake Butler Correctional Facility on charges she aided the escape of to Jacksonville convicts last Wednesday morning.
William Bruton and Justin McCullough were on a work detail outside the fence prison when they jumped into a waiting SUV.
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Following up on a tip, detectives said an analysis of phone records led them to Laura Wiley, 39, of Bradford County.
Deputies said Wiley had a relationship with one of the inmates who escaped.
Bruton, who was serving 10 years for a Jacksonville homicide, and McCullough, who was serving three years for robbery -- were captured by the Florida State Patrol in High Springs about 12 hours after the escape.
Trooper said the two fugitives were seen coming out of woods near U.S. 129 in Alachua County and waving down a car driven by Ryan Whitwood of Bell. Troopers were told that McCullough gave Whitwood $50 for a ride to Interstate 75.
After they were pulled over, Bruton and McCullough were taken into custody without incident. The FHP did not say if Whitwood would be charged.
Wiley was booked into the Union County jail and held on $30,000 bond. The Department of Corrections said Monday she was being terminated.
Bruton and McCullough were expected to be charged with escape.
Previous Stories:
- November 23, 2007: Escaped Convicts Captured In Alachua County
- November 21, 2007: 2 Convicts Escape Union County Prison