Murderer Raymond Taylor Escapes from Jail by Masquerading as Cellmate
Photo: Raymond Taylor.
The 26-year-old, of New York, walked away from the Maryland Correctional Adjustment Center about 2 p.m. last Thursday afternoon.
But his freedom didn't last long. Taylor was recaptured Friday morning in Martinsburg, W.Va., by a law enforcement task force that included Baltimore City and Maryland State Police.
Taylor was caught without incident at a friend's home, said Baltimore Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.
The prison is a former "Supermax" facility that's now used to house inmates who are awaiting court appearances or moving from one prison to another. It houses 540 inmates; 214 are federal prisoners.
Maryland Commissioner of Correction J. Michael Stouffer said that on Thursday morning, a transportation detail arrived at the prison from western Maryland with Taylor, who was due in court on a matter not related to his convictions. He was placed in the cell with the other inmate.
At 1:45 p.m., Stouffer said, a line officer called the name of the other inmate. Taylor went to the front of the cell, Stouffer said, and handed the officer the other inmate's ID card.
"He presented himself as the other inmate," Stouffer said. "He was asked for the ID number, and he (said) it."
Twice more, Taylor was asked to identify himself by different prison workers, Stouffer said. Each time, Taylor recited the other inmate's ID number. Taylor was released.
Stouffer said the mistake was discovered about 3:45 p.m. when the other inmate began kicking on the cell door, demanding to be released.