UPDATE: Woman arrested in convicted killer's escape

Paul Grice, 38
Paul Grice, 38

4:15 p.m. UPDATE

Stephanie Smith, 32, of Fordyce
Stephanie Smith, 32, of Fordyce

Dallas County deputies arrested a woman who is accused of helping a convicted killer escape from jail Sunday, a spokesman for the sheriff's office said.

Stephanie Smith, 32, of Fordyce was arrested at 7:39 p.m. Sunday and has been charged with aiding and abetting an escape, spokesman Penny Retford said. She is being held at the Ouachita County jail with no bond set, according to the Ouachita County sheriff's office website.

Police said they expect to make more arrests in the next few days.

Read Tuesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

11:15 a.m. UPDATE

A convicted killer who escaped from jail Sunday is in the custody of the Drew County sheriff's office, a dispatcher said around 11 a.m. Monday.

No information about where or how police recaptured Paul Grice was immediately available. The dispatcher at the sheriff's department said he is awaiting booking.

EARLIER

A man who escaped the Dallas County jail Sunday is being sought in nearby Drew County Monday morning, police said.

The man, 38-year-old Paul Grice, is believed to be in the Monticello area, police in Drew County said. Officers would not elaborate on where or with whom they suspect Grice to be hiding.

He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a black shirt and a gray jacket, police said.

Grice, who was convicted of second-degree murder in 1998, was charged last fall with aggravated burglary and escape, and was being held in the county jail after pleading guilty in a case, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported Monday.

A spokesman with the University of Arkansas at Monticello said all classes are going on as normal Monday as police continue to search for Grice around the south Arkansas city.

Officials at both the Dallas and Drew County sheriff's offices each said all deputies were out searching for Grice late Monday morning and were not available for comment.

Grice should be considered armed and dangerous, authorities said.

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