3 Inmates Escape Missouri Prison; How Did Matthew Brandon Cook, Kade Reaves Stringfellow and Rodney Joe Green Break Out?

Three inmates law enforcement officials consider possibly "armed and dangerous" escaped a southeastern Missouri prison late Monday night. Officials at the Butler County Jail say Matthew Cook, 29, Kade Stringfellow, 23, and Rodney Joe Green, 40, escaped through air ducts in the ceiling of their cells. Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs cited faulty building design as the reason the trio were able to slip away. The three men, two of which were awaiting murder charges, escaped around 11:30 p.m. Monday night. Schools and other facilities in the Poplar Bluff area were on high alert Tuesday.

The Missouri Highway Patrol has brought in aircraft to aid in the search, the dragnet of which stretches as far as the Arkansas capital of Little Rock. All three men were being detained while awaiting trial on their charges at the time that they escaped.

Cook is wanted in connection with a February shooting in a McDonalds parking lot in Advance, Mo. Stringfellow is also wanted on similar charges stemming from the death of his infant son. Green is wanted for a home invasion during, which the homeowner was shot in the hand.

Anyone with information regarding the escape, or the whereabouts of the three individuals is asked to contact the Butler County Sheriff's Office at (573) 785-8444.