Convicted murderer escapes during prison outing in Saar
German authorities are searching for Mario Stegnitz, a 44-year-old prisoner who fled during a supervised outing from prison.
Convicted murderer escapes during prison outing in Saar
A 44-year-old man convicted of murder broke out on Wednesday, 8 July, at approximately 15:00 during a supervised prison outing in Schmelz, a municipality north of Saarlouis in Saar. German authorities are conducting an intensive search for the fugitive.
Mario Stegnitz evaded the attention of his guards during the monitored outing in the municipality of around 16,000 residents. Saarland police issued a call for vigilance on the same evening and asked the public for assistance in the search. At the same time, a strong warning was issued against making contact with the escapee.
According to German media outlet Bild, Stegnitz was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2011 for the murder of a 77-year-old pensioner during a botched burglary. He was 29 years old at the time. His sentence, which he was serving at Saarbrücken prison, was to be reviewed for possible release after 15 years in custody.
The wanted man is described as 1.92 metres tall, slim, with black hair and a black moustache. He has brown eyes, a scar on his right thigh and a tattoo on his left forearm. At the time of his escape, he was wearing a cream-coloured T-shirt, light blue jeans and white Nike trainers.
Police have deployed extensive search resources to locate the prisoner as quickly as possible. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to contact Saarbrücken police on +49 681 9321-233 or call the emergency number 110. The authorities also advise against picking up hitchhikers until further notice as a precaution.
Source: Le Républicain Lorrain / Le Quotidien
Source: Le Quotidien