Mississippi County inmate escapees recaptured - Action News 5 - Memphis, Tennessee

BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. (AP) - Two escapees from an Arkansas Department of Correction work-release center have been recaptured.

Department spokeswoman Shea (SHAY) Wilson said Saturday that 46-year-old Danny Rankins was recaptured Saturday in Liberal, Kan., and 42-year-old John Laxton Jr. was arrested Friday night between Loveland and Denver, Colo.

Wilson did not have details of the arrests - but said both were taken into custody without incident after being spotted on various store videos in Oklahoma.

Wilson says investigators believe the two were picked up from separate work-release sites in Blytheville on July 18 by a woman. Wilson said a woman with Laxton when he was arrested was also arrested - but has not been charged.

Laxton was serving a 20-year sentence for theft while Rankins was serving a 20-year term for drug convictions.

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