Escaped Inmates May be in Fort Smith Area

Rankins and Laxton

Two men who escaped from the Arkansas Department of Correction’s Mississippi County Work Release Center in Luxora, Ark., are believed to be in Fort Smith or the surrounding area, according to officials.

John Laxton, 42, and Danny Rankins, 46, were working at two separate job sites in Blytheville when they left with a woman driving a green Kia, according to Shea Wilson, Communications Administrator with ADC.

An officer returned to pick them up around 8 p.m. on July 18, but the men were not at the job site, Wilson said.

Investigators are not sure if the three are still together.

Laxton was in custody for theft of property. Rankins was in custody for manufacturing, delivery of a controlled substance.

Laxton is described as a white male, 5’4″, 164 lbs., with brown eyes. Rankin is described as a white male, 5’7″, 160 lbs., with hazel eyes and brown hair.

Anyone with information on Laxton, Rankins or their traveling companion are asked to call the River Valley Crime Stoppers tip line at (479) 78-CRIME or the Arkansas Department of Correction at( 870) 267-6421.