Escaped Lorain County inmate turns himself in; other fugitive still on run

ELYRIA — One of two men who escaped from the Lorain-Medina Community Based Correctional Facility in Elyria on June 29 has surrendered to authorities. Kevin McKitrick, 35, of Elyria, turned himself in at Lorain County Jail on Wednesday after more than two weeks on the run, according to the Lorain County Sheriff's Office. He and fellow inmate Justin Hamilton, 21, of Vermilion, broke a window in their dorm to escape the Lorain-Medina CBCF. Hamilton's whereabouts are still unknown, according to the sheriff's office, and McKitrick denied any knowledge of his location after surrendering to authorities. The Sheriff's Office Detective Bureau along with the Afternoon Shift Road Patrol Division and U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force had been tracking possible locations of McKitrick for several days. For two days, phone conversations had been taking place between sheriff's office detectives and the escapee. McKitrick agreed to turn himself in Wednesday. He was charged with escape, a second-degree felony, and vandalism, a fifth-degree felony. He will appear in Elyria Municipal Court on those charges Thursday. McKitrick was being held on an aggravated-burglary conviction and Hamilton was being held on a tampering with evidence conviction, Sheriff's Lt. Robert Vansant said last week. The Lorain-Medina CBCF is a local correctional alternative to prison where inmates receive addiction treatment and counseling services. The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force this week announced a reward for information leading to the capture of the fugitives. Anyone with information on Hamilton's whereabouts can call the Sheriff's Office at (440) 329-3709 or the Violent Fugitive Task Force at (866) 4WANTED. You also can text the keyword "WANTED" and your tip to 847411 (tip411). Tipsters can remain anonymous.