Ionia Prison Escape: The Case Against Improper Inmate Classifications, Massive Perimeter Budget Cuts
Deja vu, repeat or recycle. Words to describe similarly in a series of events. Preventable actions which led 20 years later to the escape of convicted serial murderer Michael David Elliot from Ionia Correctional Facility on February 2, 2014."
Prisoner Elliot was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole by a Gladwin County, Michigan Courthouse twenty years ago, of the murders of four former state residents: Michael E. Tufnell, 33 and Vicki Sue Currie, 39, and visitors Bruce S. Tufnell, 32, and Kathy Lou Lane, 38.
Ensuring no evidence was left at the scene, Elliot along with convicted murdering accomplice Charles L. Treece torched house the four victims lay dead.
According to the court transcripts, Inmate Elliot “shot everyone in the back of the head" recounted witness Tammy LaCross, age 16, at the time the crimes.
Elliot failed to spare a bullet for his then girlfriend Kathy Lane or the other three victims: Tufnel, Currie or Squires Tuffnell, Jr.
“They found that there were victims in the house,” said Gladwin County Sheriff Mike Shea, a Deputy at the time of Elliot's murder rampage rocking the tranquil community of Bently Township. “We thought a structure fire with people inside that hadn’t woken up, and then it went on from that into a homicide.”
The Michigan Department of Corrections Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) classifies Prisoner Michael Elliot, #236879 as a Security Classification- Level-2 (II) offender. The Level-2 security level that is normally reserved for convicted felons with little if any, risk of escape or past history crimes of violence.
Offenders are classified by a combination of factors consistent with: crime(s) inmates are convicted of, rules violations or crimes committed while in MDOC Custody and psychological behavior profile detailing tendencies or mental illnesses that could lead to acts of violence in Michigan Prisons.
Elliot was convicted of by a selected jury of his peers in 1994 of four counts of Murder in the First Degree (MCL-750.316), one count of Robbery Armed (MCL-750.529), Burning Dwellings of a House (MCL-750.72) Possession Of Firearm During Committing Of Felony (MCL-750.227B) and an inactive conviction of Breaking and an inactive conviction of Entering - Entry Without Breaking With Intent (MCL-750.111).
The nature of violence associated with Elliot's crimes, likely would result in Security classification level after assessment at Charles Egeler Reception and Guidance Center in Jackson as Level 4 or 5 (IIII or V) "Closed" penal facility inmate.
According to OTIS, Inmate Elliot has spent a majority of his sentence at Ionia's Correctional Facility (ICF).
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