Authorities in North Carolina are conducting a manhunt for John Matthew Nigh, an inmate who escaped from the Craven County Jail in New Bern by navigating through the facility’s ventilation system. The escape occurred on Sunday afternoon (January 26), when Nigh’s cellmates assisted him by removing a ceiling grating, allowing him to enter a utility ceiling chase and exit through a ventilation housing. The cellmates concealed his absence by stuffing a mattress to make it appear as if he was still in his cell.
Nigh, a 37-year-old white male, is described as 6-foot-2 and weighing approximately 190 pounds, with a beard and tattoos, including a cross on his upper right arm and the letters “JMN” on his upper left arm. He is considered dangerous due to his past interactions with law enforcement, including an incident in June 2024 when he allegedly fired shots at deputies attempting to arrest him on felony larceny charges. He was being held on charges of attempted murder, among others.
The Craven County Sheriff’s Office has issued a statewide alert, and the U.S. Marshals’ Fugitive Task Force is assisting in the search. Authorities are actively pursuing leads on Nigh’s whereabouts. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Craven County Sheriff’s Office at 252-633-2357 or call 911.
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