

He also robbed a truck driver who was in the restroom of his jacket and cell phone, Grill said. Welch got Nowland's gun and then got the keys and removed his leg shackles, Grill said.

In the restroom, Welch attacked the guard with a screwdriver type tool, stabbing him several times, including in the right hand, the back of the neck and the head, Grill said. Grill said at some point, Welch's handcuffs were removed, but his legs remained shackled.

Wednesday's escape occurred after North Atlantic Extradition guard Michael Nowland, 29, of Columbus, Miss., led Welch and four other prisoners into the rest area restroom. 18 arrest in Mexico as he attempted to cross the border into the United States. Welch had been held in San Diego after his Nov. Welch was being transported from the San Diego (Calif.) County Jail to Waukesha at the time of his escape. Wold and Johnson are charged with first-degree intentional homicide as a party to a crime. Welch is charged with first-degree intentional homicide. Wold and Johnson are longtime friends, according to court records. Johnson, 65, of Mexico and formerly of Waukesha, and Welch conspired to kill Smith. According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, Wold, Jack E. Smith was in a bitter custody dispute with Darren M. DNA found on the evidence was connected to Welch, who had a criminal record in California, according to court records. Police found a knife and a pair of medical-style gloves used in the slaying in a storm drain near Smith's home. 1, binding her hands behind her back and stabbing her in an alleged murder-for-hire plot. There has been no sign of Welch or the white Dodge van since the escape, Grill said.Ī nationwide manhunt is under way for Welch, who is accused of somehow getting into the Oconomowoc home of Kimberly Smith on Oct. Its officials did not respond to requests for comment. North Atlantic Extradition, based in Columbus, Miss., is a private prisoner transport company. The protocol is to stop at local jail facilities for restroom breaks," Schimel said. "When we contracted with them, we were provided with their policies which prohibit stopping at public restroom facilities. The North Atlantic Extradition Service van never should have stopped at a rest area, Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel said. Welch fired shots at the guard as he stole the prisoner transport van and fled the rest area on I-40 near Fort Smith, Ark., in the brazen escape at 2:30 a.m. The guard was awakened by Welch at gunpoint and after Welch had attacked another guard in a restroom, Van Buren (Ark.) Police Lt. One of the private transport guards who was supposed to be watching murder suspect Justin Welch was asleep and did not know the van had stopped at the rest area in Arkansas where Welch made his violent escape, police said Thursday.
