Chicago mayor's security man captures escapee

updated 12:21 p.m. ET July 13, 2009

GRAND BEACH, Mich. - A convicted killer who was one of three inmates who escaped from the Indiana State Prison was caught Monday near the vacation home of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley by one of his bodyguards, and authorities warned residents nearby to stay inside.

The guard was holding the inmate, 48-year-old Charles Smith, at gunpoint in a driveway near Daley's home, when police arrived and took him into custody, said Grand Beach Police Chief Dan Schroeder.

The three inmates — two murderers and a rapist — escaped from the prison through the tunnel system underneath the penitentiary, which is eight miles from Daley's vacation home and 40 miles from Chicago.

Schroeder said police believe convicted killer Mark Booher, 46, of New Castle, Ind. also was spotted in Grand Beach and warned residents to stay inside and lock their doors. The third inmate was convicted rapist Lance Battreal, 45, of Rockport.

"Until this individual is apprehended, I don't want them to take any chances," Schroeder said.

A woman at a home in Grand Beach saw two men in her driveway and called police, Schroeder said. It was unclear how Daley's security guard became involved, he said, but Smith was taken into custody without incident.

Discovered missing on Sunday
It was not immediately clear whether Daley was at the house when Smith taken into custody and Schroeder did not have any more information about Smith's capture.

The Associated Press left a message at the house where Smith was captured in the driveway.

Indiana Department of Correction officials said the men were discovered missing about 10 a.m. Sunday. The three escaped by getting past bars in the tunnels and pipe chases under the grounds of the maximum-security prison in Michigan City, Ind., said Department spokesman Doug Garrison.

Two of the inmates did maintenance work in the prison's tunnel system as part of supervised work crews. Garrison said he wasn't sure which two had done the work.

The three men were in the same housing unit but it's unclear how they knew each other, Garrison said. Prison officials were talking to people who knew the inmates, including people on their visitation or e-mail lists and family and friends.

Smith, Booher and Battreal started serving time in the late 1990s and all faced at least 30 more years behind bars.

More from msnbc.com Easing job losses point to wobbly recovery Cars are approaching ‘auto’ pilot mode Were you paying attention? Take our news quiz  Facebook’s fantasy games cost more than time How readers got pieces of Berlin Wall | Gallery  Not supposed to worry about troops at home On Twitter: Breaking news updates | Weird and wild

MORE FROM CRIME & COURTS

Crime & courts Section Front

Alleged Fort Hood shooter's lonely life Clear warning signs, Hasan's colleagues say NYT: Muslims at Fort Hood voice outrage Newsweek: Should Hasan's act be considered a terrorist act? Experts: Ohio killings, Dahmer fit same profile Office shooting suspect’s life spiraled down Cops: L.A. celebrity burglaries led by teen Court: OK to remove man after Nazi salute Crime & courts Section Front   Add Crime & courts headlines to your news reader: