Escaped inmate spotted in Michigan City

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - U.S. Marshals and local authorities in Michigan City say someone may have spotted one of the missing inmates.

Investigators say someone saw a man fitting the description of Mark Booher a convicted killer who authorities say escaped from an Indiana State Prison with Lance Battreal and Chris Smith early Sunday morning.

Smith was apprehended the next day in Grand Beach Michigan, but Booher and Battreal remain on the loose.

A helicopter and police dogs are being used to search the area where Booher was sighted.

The convicted killer wasn't expected to leave prison until 2041.

"In terms of what they were convicted for these are not upstanding citizens. These are the worst of the worst that's why we've committed our entire resources within the Marshal Service toward focusing on apprehending these subjects," said Shannon Robinson of the U.S. Marshal Service.

Meanwhile, convicted rapist Lance Battreal has not been seen since the escape.

He had been convicted of rape before, served his time and after his release raped again. He wasn’t scheduled to be released from prison until 2047. Deputies have warned his victims in southern Indiana and northern Kentucky.

"The sheriff personally as well as other officers within our department has been in constant communication with the family," said Lt. Col. Jeff Jones of Daviess County Sheriff's Office.

Meanwhile, an internal investigation into the escape has determined that 3 correctional officers may have been negligent in supervising the offenders.

Standing Post orders require constant supervision of offenders when they are working in the tunnels. Investigators believe that the offenders had unauthorized and unsupervised access to the tunnels on numerous occasions in the recent past.

At this time, authorities don’t believe the officers were aware of the escape plans. All three have been suspended pending completion of the investigation.

Booher and Battreal are considered extremely dangerous.

An anonymous tip line has been set up for information on either inmate’s whereabouts. It is (800) 78-CRIME.

Information that leads to their capture is eligible for a $6,000 reward.