David Alan Woods is seen in this undated photo. (Gastonia Correctional Center)
A North Carolina man serving a life sentence for murder briefly escaped from prison Monday, but was killed when the stolen truck he was driving overturned on Interstate 85.
According to the Gaston Gazette, 46-year-old David Alan Woods stole a Ford truck belonging to the city of Lowell while on a work detail Monday afternoon. The truck was found sometime after 2:15 p.m. at the bottom of an embankment with its roof crushed.
The Gazette reported that Woods was ejected from the truck.
Woods had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and burglary in connection with the 1993 beating death of 89-year-old Roseline Murphy. Prosecutors said Woods and another man, Jeffrey Dickens, broke into Murphy’s trailer to rob her. Investigators said Dickens beat Murphy to death with a hammer before the two men left the scene to buy drugs.
According to the Gazette, Woods contacted the Sanford Police Department the next day and entered a guilty plea the day before his trial began. Dickens also confessed to killing Murphy and received a life sentence.
It was not immediately clear what kind of work Woods was doing when he escaped. An investigation into his escape is ongoing.
True Crime
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.
