
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, April 19, 1994                   TAG: 9404190167
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-4   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: INDEPENDENCE                                LENGTH: Short

MURDERER FLEES GRAYSON JAIL; SEARCH MOUNTED

A convicted murderer escaped from the Grayson County Jail on Monday and authorities set up roadblocks and warned people to remain in their homes while they looked for him with a helicopter and tracking dogs.

Robert D. Godfrey, originally of New Castle, Del., broke into Albert Haywood Hamilton's house in December 1992 and shot him to death, said J.B. Johnson, chief deputy of the Grayson County Sheriff's Office.

Godfrey, 25, was convicted of robbery and first-degree murder in Hamilton's death on Jan. 27. He was sentenced to 200 years in prison and was being held in the jail while awaiting his transfer to the state prison system, authorities said.

About 7:30 a.m. Monday, Godfrey walked out of an unsecured area of the jail and outran a guard, Deputy Sheriff Maxie Jones said.

Johnson said a jailer was ``cleaning up'' when he allowed Godfrey to go out of his cell and into a hallway.

A Virginia State Police helicopter and tracking dogs were being used to search the rural area.

by CNB