92.3 JACK FM

PHOENIX - One of three inmates who escaped from a northwest Arizona prison, kidnapped two semi-truck drivers at gunpoint and used the big rig to flee has been captured in western Colorado, authorities said Sunday.

Daniel Renwick, 36, was caught early Sunday after a police pursuit ended in Rifle, Colorado, about 670 miles (1,080 kilometres) from the medium-security Arizona State Prison in Golden Valley, Arizona Department of Corrections spokesman Barrett Marson said.

Renwick was serving 22 years for second-degree murder when he and two other convicted murderers escaped Friday evening by cutting a hole through a perimeter fence at the Arizona prison. Police spent much of Saturday using helicopters and dogs to search for the three men.

Marson said the other two inmates remain at large and should be considered especially dangerous because of the nature of their convictions.

Officials identified them as Tracy Province, 42, who was serving a life sentence for murder and robbery, and John McCluskey, 45, serving 15 years for second-degree murder, aggravated assault and discharge of a firearm.

Marson said the men are believed to be with Casslyn Mae Welch, 44, who is suspected of aiding in the escape.

At about 5 a.m. Saturday, the group kidnapped two drivers of a semi-truck in Kingman and forced them at gunpoint to drive two hours east to Flagstaff, said Flagstaff police Sgt. James Jackson.

The group left the drivers, unharmed, in the truck at a stop just off Interstate 40 and then fled in an unknown direction.

"The truck drivers were lucky to get away unscathed," Jackson said. "I mean, they've been convicted of murder and they're escaping from prison."

Authorities said Welch was seen at the prison before the escape driving a car. The car hasn't been found.

Management and Training Corp. of Centerville, Utah, operates the prison. The company operates 17 correctional facilities in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Idaho and Ohio, according to its website.