Prison Escapee Captured in Cleburne County

An escaped killer was captured Thursday in Cleburne County in the small community of McJester, not far from the town of Pangburn, in White County.

It is a very rural area, where people say they usually leave their doors open, but after hearing Reese had escaped that all changed.

"We locked our doors, we got our guns out, I mean this is a murderer."

Pat Schaffer and her sister Linda Long are relieved to hear Curtis Reese Jr. has been captured.

But shocked it happened in their tiny community of McJester.

"I don't usually lock my door in the daytime, said Long."

"In our neighborhood that we thought was a safe place there's been a murderer here, said Schaffer."

Officials say Reese was found Thursday morning hiding inside a cave down in a ravine.

Rachel Jordan witnessed it all.

"I came around the corner and there were officers everywhere, and helicopter in the air, and the K-9 dogs were turned loose out in this field."

Reese escaped the Tucker Unit on Monday, after hiding inside the tank of a fire truck.

Since then K-9 units, officers on horses and 4 wheelers have been searching the area around the prison.

Tuesday officials in Saline County in Benton were on high alert, because that's Reese's last known address and he has family there.

These sisters say they knew Reese had escaped but, "We had no idea, we didn't think he would come this far."

Now that Reese is back behind bars, everyone in this community can rest a little easier.

"I feel relieved and I feel good that they caught him so quick."

Arkansas Department of Correction officials say Reese is at the Varner Super Max Prison.

State Police will turn the investigation over to the Jefferson County Prosecutor and charges will be filed from there.

Reese could get 10 years added to his sentence

He had already served 15 years of a 40 year sentence.