BREAKING NEWS: PA Mass murder suspect escapes from jail

[Padraig18]

Hugo Selinski, accused of murdering at least 5 people and burying the bodies in his back yard, escaped from the Luzern Co. jail in Wilkes-Barre, PA early this morning (I think). A massive manhunt is under way. Just heard this on the 'Today Show'.

More as this develops.

[radfringe]

1. That's down the road from me

County Jail is along RT. 11, just a hop-skip and a jump from me

on edit: link to local news coverage
http://wnep.com/Global/story.asp?S=1478482

Hugo Selenski Escapes From Luzerne County Prison

Accused murderer Hugo Selenski is on the loose. Police say he and another inmate, Scott Bolton, escaped from the Luzerne County Prison around 9:45 Friday night. It appears the two broke out of a barred jail cell from the sixth floor, using bed sheets tied into a long rope. Police say Bolton fell during the escape and was flown to the hospital with serious injuries. We're told Selenski got away.

Selenski was just charged with murder on Monday. He's accused of killing two drug dealers, burning their remains, and then burying them in his yard in Kingston Township. Five sets of remains were found in that yard, back in June of this year.

Luzerne County District Attorney Dave Lupas asks people to be on the look-out for Selenski, especially anyone living near the prison on Water Street in Wilkes-Barre. Lupas says prison officials and the warden are being interviewed. The D.A. comments, "The warden and all the prison officials are obviously going to have to offer some explanations as to how this could have occurred."

[ReadTomPaine]

2. Lock your door!

[radfringe]

3. we always do

Today is our usual day for running errands in town - with Selinski on the "lam" - this means road blocks by local/state police - with shotguns, who will be checking cars

Local TV News coverage - cautioning people, call 911 if seen, do not try to apprehend

photos of the prison on the tube - shows sheets/rope tied together dangling out of 5th story window, down to roof of another small building (which had barbed wire on it)

apparantly they also threw a mattress out of the window, Bolton fell and was injured during the escape, Selinski said adios, laid the matress over barbed wire and skedadalled

[La_Serpiente]

4. Wholly shit...

Is the prison near Phildelphia? Is it near Swarthmore? I better call my brother.

[radfringe]

5. no where near Philadelphia

Wilkes-Barre is in the Northeast corner of PA - 2 hours north of Philadelphia

[Algorem]

8. Don't worry,the FBI will get him.Well.maybe not get him.Bug him?Join

him?Cover it all up?Any Dems there should be investigated/persecuted/removed.

[0007]

17. Use to live in Honesdale

I'd go to Wiles-Barre for electrical & AC material. Wilkes-Barre is an old old beautiful town.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

21. now THAT'S the NE corner of PA! (Wayne Co.)

Honesdale- Home of HighLights Magazine!
Funny thing about this is that prisons seem to be an important part of the local economy. You'd think the people working there would be more responsible about keeping these guys locked up. Some heads better roll from this.

[ConcernedCanuk]

6. All the beefed up security for "The Homeland" - murderers escape ??

USA's biggest dangers lie within I fear

And really

- what kinda prison is that ? ?

- like bedsheets for escaping is not 'zactly a NEW idea ! !! !


Sheeeeessssssh !

[ReadTomPaine]

7. Yes it sounds like a movie from the '50s

"Be on the lookout for a man in a prison jumpsuit with a black mask covering his eyes"

[Muddleoftheroad]

9. Death Penalty

This is one of the many reasons for the death penalty. People who get the death penalty never escape. They never kill again -- inside or outside of prison.

[trumad]

10. I am still amazed

that the old bedsheet method still works... It happens all the time in jails across the land... Why the hell can't they make a bedsheet that rips easily when pulled?

[underpants]

12. Sounds like some pretty crappy security to me

I would assume that he was in maximum security and he still got out?

Something is fishy here.

[trumad]

11. Muddleoftheroad

Yes Muddleoftheroad...but is the Death Penalty a perfect system that will never er..accidentally kill an innocent person...Prove to me it is and I'll consider changing my mind.

[Muddleoftheroad]

13. No system is perfect

But murderers have a high recidivism rate. That means, for those in the stands, that they kill and kill again. Lock them up in prison and they kill fellow inmates, staff, guards or visitors. Or, like the "gentleman" from the story, they get out and pose the risk to kill on the outside.

No matter which way you choose, people who shouldn't die, do so. In my way, fewer innocents die.

[Mandate My Ass]

16. murder rates go up in the vicinity of an execution

immediately following an execution. Those innocents shouldn't have to die either.

[Muddleoftheroad]

26. Murder rates go up more in the vicinity of a murderer

nt

[Mandate My Ass]

27. If you can't use logic or facts to dispute an argument

cute one-liners are just as good. :-)

[ConcernedCanuk]

14. "Selenski was just charged with murder on Monday"

First of all

He was only there 4 days

- not even in court yet

- I don't agree with the Death Penaly, but putting that aside, I think if/when he is caught/convicted

- he'll be in a pretty secure environment !!

- He be heading for a SuperMax methinks

Just My Humble Canuk Opinion

[Mandate My Ass]

15. umm he just got arrested a few days ago

he hasn't even gotten a trial yet. Somehow I know this means nothing to you.

[rman]

19. which part of "suspect" do you not understand?

-

[tom_paine]

23. Very good point

I'm surprised it's not one made more often.

[MinnFats]

28. And the innocent ones who are executed?

well, they never kill, I guess.

Capital punishment is barbarism.

[ConcernedCanuk]

18. "State again warns Luzerne County about prison overcrowding"

ONE MONTH AGO !!!

"For the fourth consecutive year, the state Department of Corrections has warned Luzerne County officials to do something to alleviate overcrowding at the county prison.
"The safety and security of staff and inmates could be placed in jeopardy due to the current overcrowded conditions," according to the prison's annual 2003 inspection.

The prison was 72 inmates over its approved occupancy of 679 when the inspection was conducted in July."

<SNIP>

"Department of Corrections Executive Deputy Secretary John S. Shaffer asked the county Prison Board to respond to the inspection report in writing within 60 days."





Hmmmmmm - sumpthin tells me that 60 days is gonna
get "expedited" !!

[rman]

20. "Mass murder" is newspeak? Used to be "serial killing"

5 people murdered is 5 to many but it's hardly massive.

but "mass murder" sounds more scary if only becuase people associate it with weapons of Mass Destruction.

[bicentennial_baby]

22. 2 Different things

If I remember correctly, mass murder is when you kill several people at the same time, like in a shooting rampage situation. Serial murder is when you kill several people, but not at the same time, in a series.

[radfringe]

24. Local news update

Selenski on the run
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10306323&BRD=2259&PAG=461&dept_id=455154&rfi=6



Hugo Marcus Selenski was seen using an inmate telephone sometime between 8 and 8:05 p.m. Friday, about 90 minutes before he and Scott Bolton escaped from the Luzerne County Correctional Facility.


The telephone call and whether Selenski had either outside or inside assistance in his escape is under review, Luzerne County District Attorney David W. Lupas said Saturday.

"There are questions investigators have," Lupas said. "We're trying to find out. If this was planned or if there was help from the outside, anyone aiding and abetting this man will be pursued and prosecuted."

"Hugo Selenski has many associates, friends and family in the area. We want to send out a strong message - anyone who aids him, we will aggressively prosecute them," stressed Lt. Frank Hacken, of the state police at Wyoming.

Lupas said the parents of Michael Jason Kerkowski, who live in the Back Mountain, were notified of Selenski's escape.

"They've been advised and (they're) taking the appropriate measures," Lupas said.

The bodies of Kerkowski's son, Michael Jason Kerkowski, 37, and his girlfriend, Tammy Lynn Fassett, 37, were found in a shallow grave behind Selenski's home at 479 Mount Olivet Road, Kingston Township, on June 5. The human remains of Adeiye Ossasis Keiler and James Franks, along with a third set of remains, were found in garbage bags on the property.

Late Friday night through early Saturday morning, a massive search consumed an area as far north to the Eighth Street Bridge in Jenkins Township to Hanover Township south of the prison, and as far west to Kingston Township.

---snip---

As of Saturday night, authorities had no idea where or in what direction Selenski may have gone.

"He could be local, he could not be local," Lupas said. "If we knew where he was, he'd be in custody right now."

[truthisfreedom]

25. link to story

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=162745