The extensive search for Bradley Gillespie, an Ohio escaped inmate from the Allen Oakwood Correctional Institution nearly five days ago, reached a tragic conclusion on Sunday afternoon when his body was discovered in the Ohio River, Fox News noted.

Gillespie, 50 years old, had bolted from the Lima, Ohio jail alongside his accomplice, James Lee, 47, on Tuesday. Gillespie had been serving time since 2016 for a murder conviction.

The discovery of Gillespie's body in the Ohio River was announced during a press conference held by Henderson Police Chief Sean McKinney on Sunday afternoon.

A boater on the Ohio River had alerted authorities after spotting what appeared to be a body floating in the water. Upon arrival, the police confirmed the presence of a deceased individual, with the location closely matching Gillespie's last known whereabouts.

"A preliminary investigation indicates we recovered the body of Bradley Gillespie from the river," McKinney said, expressing his confidence that the relentless pursuit for Gillespie had concluded.

An autopsy is scheduled on Tuesday to investigate the circumstances surrounding Gillespie's death, shedding light on his time in the river and the events leading to his demise.

McKinney shared that the level of decomposition observed on the body indicated that Gillespie had likely been deceased for approximately four days.

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2 Ohio Inmates Escaped from Prison

The Henderson Police Department in Kentucky remained steadfast in locating Gillespie and Lee, who escaped by concealing themselves in a dumpster and traveling to Kentucky, per PEOPLE, quoting the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

A red 1991 Mercury Capri, believed to have been occupied by Gillespie and Lee, was discovered by the Henderson Police Department and the Henderson County Sheriff's Office early Wednesday morning.

Law enforcement officers attempted to stop the vehicle in the 2200 North United States Route 41 block. However, upon police intervention, the car swiftly fled to evade capture, as detailed by the Henderson Police Department's Facebook post.

Subsequently, both individuals abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. Lee, who was behind the wheel, was apprehended after a brief pursuit. However, Gillespie was not at the scene, prompting an intensified search.

During the investigation, authorities discovered Gillespie's shoe, significantly leading to their pursuit. The shoe was found approximately two blocks from where the escapees left the vehicle, aiding investigators in narrowing down Gillespie's potential whereabouts.

Ohio Escaped Inmate's Daughter Asked Him to Surrender Before His Death

In a video shared by the Ohio State Highway Patrol on Friday before Ohio escaped inmate was found dead, Gillespie's daughter made a desperate plea to her father, urging him to surrender peacefully, NBC 4 reported.

With a trembling voice, Gillespie's daughter expressed her deep desire to have her father back, particularly highlighting her upcoming wedding as a milestone for which she hoped he could be present.

"I want you in my life; I want you in my wedding," she implored in the video message. "I don't want anything bad to happen, so if you could please turn yourself in before anybody gets hurt, I would appreciate it. We want you safe; we want you back; we don't want anything bad to happen," she said in the video.

Publicly available court records reveal that Gillespie had been sentenced to 15 years to life in prison in February 2016. The conviction stemmed from the murders of Frank Tracy Jr. and Hannah A. Fisher in Paulding County, as documented in the court records.

In the aftermath of the escape, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the authorities involved have taken action to address the situation. A major and three corrections officers from the Lima jail have been placed on paid administrative leave as part of the ongoing investigation.

More employees may face disciplinary measures as the investigation progresses, reflecting the authorities' commitment to thoroughness and accountability.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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