Murderer Escapes From County Jail

A convicted murderer escaped from the main Los Angeles County Jail on Thursday by switching identification wrist bands with a fellow prisoner due for release, sheriff’s deputies reported.

Kenneth Evans, 23, was to be sentenced next Friday for a street gang killing, Deputy Steve Lee said. He apparently persuaded Robert Sykes, who had been jailed on a narcotics charge and was to be released Thursday, to exchange name bands. He stepped forward when Sykes’ name was called and walked to freedom. Sykes was to be booked on a charge of aiding and abetting an escape, Lee said.

Evans was described as black, 6 feet, 1 inch tall, weighing 194 pounds and wearing a brown shirt and black pants.