Authorities in Kentucky discovered the body of Bradley Gillespie, 50, floating in the Ohio River, bringing an end to a manhunt that began when he escaped from the Allen/Oakwood Correctional Institution in Lima, Ohio. Gillespie and his accomplice, James Lee, 47, had escaped by concealing themselves in a dumpster.
After Lee was captured last Wednesday, Gillespie remained at large, prompting a multi-day manhunt. The breakthrough came when a call was received about a body floating in the river, in close proximity to where Gillespie was last seen. Preliminary identification was made based on tattoos and physical inspection.
Henderson Police Chief Sean McKinney confirmed the recovery of Gillespie’s body and announced that an autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday. Gillespie had been imprisoned since 2016 for a double homicide, while Lee was serving a sentence for burglary and safecracking.
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction revealed that the inmates had escaped after concealing themselves in a dumpster. As the investigation continues, several individuals, including a major and three corrections officers, have been placed on paid administrative leave.
The criminal investigation, led by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, is ongoing. The Allen/Oakwood Correctional Institution is located in Lima, Ohio, while Henderson, the site of the body’s discovery, is situated across the Ohio River in Kentucky.
