WOODVILLE, Texas — Deputies in Tyler County are searching for an escaped inmate who walked away from the county jail.
Jailers discovered at about noon on Sunday that Robert E. Key, 42, of Silsbee, had walked off of the grounds of the Tyler County Justice Center according to a news release from the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office.
Key, who has been in the jail since October 2019 on a charge of manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance, is described as a white, about 5’ 11” tall with sandy blonde hair and blue eyes.
His orange inmate uniform was found in a wooded area near the jail according to the release.
Key now faces a felony escape charge.
Tracking dogs from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Gibb Lewis and Polunsky units were brought in to help find the escaped inmate but were unable to locate him.
Deputies from Tyler and Hardin County and the Texas Rangers are searching for Key the release said.
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If you have information about this crime you could earn a cash reward by providing an ANONYMOUS tip to Crime Stoppers.
If you have information about the whereabouts of Key you’re asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 409-936-639-TIPS (8477) or the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office at 409-283-2172.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
From a Tyler County Sheriff’s Office news release…
On August 30, 2020, at approximately 12:00 pm, Tyler County Jailers discovered that an inmate, with trustee status, had walked off the Tyler County Justice Center facility grounds. The inmate is identified as Robert E. Key, Jr., age 42 of Silsbee, Texas.
Officials were able to locate Key’s orange inmate outfit in a wooded area, near the facility. Scent specific and pack-dogs were called in from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Gibb Lewis and Polunsky Units, but were unable to locate the inmate. The Tyler County Sheriff’s Office, Hardin County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Rangers are currently searching for Key.
Robert Key is described as a white-male, approximately 5”11 – 170 lbs, sandy-blonde hair/blue eyes. Key has been incarcerated at the Tyler County Justice Center since October 2019, charged with Manufacture/Deliver of a Controlled Substance. Key is now also charged with Felony Escape.
If you have any information regarding Robert Key, please contact the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office at 409.283.2172 or Crime Stoppers at 936.639.TIPS, you can remain anonymous and be able for a cash reward.
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