Police Stepping Up Efforts To Locate Escaped Murder Suspect
SMITH TOWNSHIP (KDKA) - A murder suspect escaped from a psychiatric hospital in West Virginia on Monday and police are working hard to track him down.
The Smith Township Police Department is actively involved in the search for Rocco Zuccaro, 30.
Police Chief Winford Larue says he will be searching for Zuccaro until he is behind bars.
Larue doesn't think Zuccaro is in Washington County.
"During the beginning of the investigation, we were at his residence quite often. He knows that would probably be the first place we'd look, so I don't really suspect he'd come back here," Larue said.
Zucccaro is from Smith Township, in the Burgettstown area. He lived there with his parents before he got into trouble with the law.
"This morning, we put out a [be on the lookout] out [alert] with all of our patrol units," said Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Matthew Jardine. "Giving a detailed description and a picture to all of our units in the field to be on the lookout for this guy."
Larue believe Zuccaro is hiding out somewhere in West Virginia.
Zuccaro escaped from Sharpe Psychiatric Hospital in Weston, West Virginia Monday afternoon. Authorities say after he scaled a wall at the hospital, police used tracking dogs and a helicopter to try and find him.
Smith Township is one of the local agencies involved in the search.
"Basically, I'm just patrolling the area, the area where his parents reside. I have another officer doing the same thing. Just trying to be visible at this point," Larue said.
Zuccaro is currently awaiting trial on first-degree murder charges involving a homicide in Brooke County, West Virginia in February of 2013. Local authorities don't believe the public is in any danger.
"He's out on the run. He's very capable of making his way through the woods and stealing clothing and doing what he needs to do to stay in the woods for a while," Sheriff Chuck Jackson with the Brooke County Sheriff's Department said.
Police say Zuccaro is a white man with dark hair, a mustache, around 6-feet tall and 170 pounds. He was last seen wearing black pants with a rip on the left pant leg, a dark blue or black pullover shirt and glasses.
Larue says he will have his officers out looking for Zuccaro through the night if he's not tracked down before then.
Police are asking the public to stay away from Zuccaro if you spot him. If you do see him, you're being asked to contact the Pennsylvania State Police, West Virginia State Police or 911.
Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter
