Search continues for NTSH escapee

Vernon Police Department reported that multiple law agencies have joined the search for the state hospital escapee. Alexander Ervin, 29, of Austin, escaped the North Texas State Hospital  on June 26. He was acquitted in the 2013 murder of his father by reason of insanity. Police Chief Randy Agan said Ervin is considered armed and dangerous due to his history of making improvised weapons.

Ervin was reportedly discovered missing from the state hospital Monday morning when he was absent from the the medicine dispensing. An investigation found he had escaped from secure areas and then scaled a fence described as 10-foot by hospital personnel, but as 8-foot by law enforcement.

Vernon Police posted Thursday that the Wilbarger County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Rangers, United States Marshals Service and Attorney General’s Fugitive Apprehension Units joined the “systematic search” for Ervin. The agencies are conducting a second search in areas already covered, the post said.