Murder Suspect Escapes After Prisoner Transport Van Stops For Fast Food

Authorities in Indiana are desperately searching for a murder suspect who escaped from a prison transport van. Police said that Leon Taylor, 22, was being transferred from O'Hare International Airport in Chicago to Lake County, Indiana, when the driver of the van stopped at a McDonald's drive-thru to grab some food.

While they were waiting in line, Taylor reportedly asked the driver to roll down the window so he could remove his mask and spit out the window. When the window was opened, Taylor managed to escape from the vehicle out and ran off.

He managed to evade capture despite being handcuffed and fitted with a leg restraint and chains around his waist. Officers with the Lake County Sheriff's Department searched the area along with a Lake County Aviation Unit helicopter and a K-9 unit but could not locate Taylor.

After reviewing the surveillance footage of the escape, Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. blasted the private company hired to transport Taylor from the airport to the Lake County Jail. 

"After watching this video, I am highly disturbed and disappointed by the procedures the private transportation driver used during the transfer of this suspect to our jail," he said. "In the first video clip we provided, about 11 seconds in, the suspect appears to be struggling with his leg brace, and no shackles were used. We believe shackles could have prevented the suspect from getting away."

He also accused the driver of making conflicting statements to investigators.

"This driver initially told our officers the suspect jumped out of a window, but the video clearly shows him exiting through a door to the vehicle. We are looking into this matter as part of an extensive review of the case," Sheriff Martinez said. "I find it appalling that REDI Transports failed to use appropriate caution and may have put the public at risk."

Police have asked the public for help locating Taylor, who is 6′, 162 lbs., with hazel eyes and brown hair. He was wearing a grey hoodie with a black hoodie underneath, black Puma tennis shoes, and black jeans when he escaped.

Taylor was arrested in Texas and is wanted on multiple charges, including a November 19 murder in East Chicago and a string of robberies in several Indiana cities back in 2018.

Photo: Lake County Sheriff's Department