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Armstrong Co. Jail Inmate Escapes, Considered Murder Suspect

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – An inmate, accused in the death of a woman after escaping from the Armstrong County Jail early Thursday morning, remained elusive well into the nighttime hours.

Police say 38-year-old Robert Edward Crissman, who was locked up on drug and theft charges, escaped from the Armstrong County Jail in Rayburn Township around 6:30 a.m. Thursday.

By Thursday afternoon, police said they were also considering Crissman to be a murder suspect.

The search for Crissman was centered in the area of the jail, where not long after his escape, police say he showed up at the home of a couple he knew. That's where police found 55-year-old Tammy Long murdered. Her boyfriend was at work at the time of her death.

Then, police said, Crissman stole the couple's 1999 maroon-colored Chevrolet Silverado.

Officials say Crissman, described as a trustee at the jail, managed to escape through an open door.

Brian Myers, the Armstrong County Coroner, said Long's body was found in the bathroom of her small home off of Route 85. Myers says an autopsy is scheduled for Friday.

Crissman is described as a white male, 5 feet 9 inches tall with strawberry blonde hair and about 150 pounds.

He was last seen wearing a green jumpsuit running towards Route 85. However, police believe he may be wearing a T-shirt and jeans and driving the stolen Chevy pickup truck with a cap.

"He has to be considered extremely dangerous," said Scott Andreassi, the Armstrong County District Attorney. "He is, we believe, the prime suspect in one homicide and everyone needs to be aware of that."

Debby Bosworth, who lives in the neighborhood where the search was centered, told KDKA-TV's Ralph Iannotti that she is terrified.

"I don't want to be alone [in my home] tonight with my son, who's 11-months-old," Bosworth said.

In April, Crissman was sentenced to six months probation for theft. He was reportedly sent to jail last week on a probation violation.

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