Police capture escaped inmate suspected in killing near jail

The man left for work about 15 minutes later and returned home later to find the lifeless body of his girlfriend, 55-year-old Tammy Long, police said.

Crissman fled the jail around 6:30 a.m. Thursday while outside getting meals off a truck to deliver to other inmates, sparking a search that involved local authorities, state police and the U.S. Marshals Service.

“When they said it was a homicide it shocked me because he was a really passive guy”, said Crytzer.

Crytzer said Crissman quit about three months ago because he had a drug problem. “And let the authorities take care of it”, said Bryan Myers the Armstrong County Coroner.

He declined to comment on the possible cause of death.

Police were alerted to Crissman’s location at about 7:30 a.m. Friday by a 911 caller who said he knocked on her door seeking help, Andreassi said.

“If anybody sees a description of the vehicle they’ve put out there and description of the suspect, obviously don’t confront him, call 911”. Sheriff William Rupert says Crissman walked outside to get meals from the truck and took off.

After the slaying, Crissman is suspected of stealing pickup owned by Long’s boyfriend, police said.

Officials say Crissman, of Templeton, was jailed July 24 for violating probation and was trusted by staff. There were no violent crimes on his record.

The 38-year-old was a trusty at the county jail in Rayburn Township, WTAE reported.

“This is very uncharacteristic of Crissman”, Andreassi said. Police did not say how she was killed; an autopsy was scheduled for Friday.