Two dangerous fugitives are still at large, and the search area has greatly expanded since one of the inmates kidnapped a Summerville woman Monday and forced her to drive him to Northeast Georgia.

Hays State Prison escapee Johnny Mack Brown broke into a woman’s home and abducted her at knifepoint Monday. He forced her to drive him to Franklin County in Northeast Georgia, where he was picked up by an unknown person, Department of Corrections officials reported.

The woman was unharmed and returned to her family.

Brown and another inmate, Michael A. Tweedell, escaped from Hays State Prison in Chattooga County on Oct. 13, and officials said they have likely survived on the run by breaking into several homes since their escape.

Department of Corrections Commissioner James E. Donald said both men were injured when they used clothing and blankets to scale the razorwire covered fence of the high security prison, and trackers have been following a trail of bloody clothes. "They got cut up pretty bad,” he said.

Donald would not comment on many of the particulars in the current search or whether the two are still working together.

“We don’t want them to know what we know,” said Donald.

Donald did say that both men have likely left the Chattooga County area, and the local search is being discontinued.

According to the DOC, the search has been expanded with the assistance of state and federal law enforcement agencies throughout the Southeast.

Floyd County commissioner and DOC board member John Mayes, who was at Tuesday’s press conference at the prison, said officials expect to have both fugitives in custody soon.

“The DOC made a mistake and let two of the bad guys out,” said Mayes. “They’re taking corrective actions.”

Donald expressed disappointment in the three individuals, including ex-Warden Dale Herndon, who were suspended in connection with the escape. He denied that budget cuts to prison staff facilitated the escape.

“Budget cutbacks have nothing to do with the failure here,” Donald said. “That was human failure.”

Donald expects all three will likely be fired following an investigation.

Brown is currently serving a life sentence for a 1997 armed robbery and shooting of a Loomis Fargo armored car driver and other violent crimes in Clarke County. He is 53, weighs 149 pounds and is about 5 feet 8 inches tall. He has a scar on his back and right thigh.

Tweedell is serving two 10-year sentences for the 1992 armed robbery of a Cobb County health food store, according to court records. He is 48, weighs 153 pounds and is 5 feet 6 inches tall.

Anyone with a tip or information can contact a 24-hour tip line at 706-857-0436.

Top photo: Department of Corrections Commissioner James E. Donald (center) speaks about the escape. He is flanked, from left, by Rick Jacobs, director of special operations; Chattooga Sheriff Ralph Kellett; Jerry Scott of the GBI; and Floyd County Commissioner and DOC board member John Mayes.

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