Douglas Alward (prison photo)

UPDATE – 2 p.m.  Authorities closed in on Alward today in a cornfield in Colorado… Story developing…

This is the fourth time Douglas Alward, 48, has slid away from the hands of law enforcement.  A career criminal known for his jail breaks escaped from the Sterling Correctional State Facility in Colorado late Sunday night and hasn’t been seen since.  Late Tuesday, authorities announced a $15,000 reward.

Katherine Sanguinetti, Spokesperson for the Colorado State Prison, says authorities aren’t releasing the details of this escape because the investigation is ongoing, but she did say that he is a dangerous criminal who needs to be found. 

Alward was serving time for first degree attempted murder, burglary and kidnapping.  Although he was eligible for parole in 2005, and a hearing was set for this October, he decided that breaking out from a secure perimeter would be better than waiting around.  He was housed in a facility with 2,500 other inmates and had been behind bars there since 2001.