New Jersey cops hunt for escaped inmate who killed 10-month-old baby

HAMMONTON, N.J., May 5 (UPI) -- Authorities were searching Thursday for an escaped inmate who had served prison time for killing his girlfriend's 10-month-old daughter.

Arthur Buckel, 38, escaped from the Ancora unit of Bayside State Prison in Hammonton around 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Authorities believe Buckel stole a Chevrolet Silverado at a CVS drugstore in Barnegat, about 50 miles from the prison, around 10:15 a.m. Wednesday.

Security footage showed him in khaki pants and a bright yellow jacket, buying food and gum.

By Wednesday night, police were in and around the area. Schools in the area were placed on lockdown.

Buckel was scheduled to be paroled on May 21 after serving a sentence at the minimum security lockup for aggravated assault. News 12 New Jersey also reported that Buckel was convicted of manslaughter in the mid-1990s after he slapped his girlfriend's 10-month-old baby to death for being fussy.

Buckel is described as a white male, 5 feet 9 inches tall, about 180 pounds with light blue eyes. At the time of the escape, he had a mustache and beard.

A security guard noticed Buckel was missing when he was conducting a head count, according to the New Jersey Corrections Department.