An inmate who escaped from a work release facility in Ottumwa remains on the loose. The Iowa Department of Corrections says 29-year-old Robert Thomas Andrews failed to return to a residential work release facility on Friday.
He was allowed to leave the facility to look for work, but never returned and was placed on “escape” status at 8:35 p.m. Andrews was granted work release by the Iowa Board of Parole in November after serving more than 11 years in prison for attempted murder, escape and assault on a peace officer. Anyone with information about Andrews’ whereabouts is asked to contact Ottumwa Police or the Wapello County Sheriff’s Department.
By Mike Buchanan, KBIZ, Ottumwa