The three Indiana prison escapees attacked 3 brothers on Monday morning around 11am and stole their 1998 Ford Ranger 4x4 super cab with Kentucky registration plate 7824BZ. The inmate escapees took the truck, cash, as many as 10 guns and flannel shirts and jeans.
The escapees apparently left the truck early Sunday and watched the Marshall property -- which is visible from the interstate -- until after dark. They then bedded down on several hay bales in the barn.
The brothers, meanwhile, knew from another sibling -- retired Kentucky State Police Trooper Phillip Marshall -- that the escapees might be in the area. He called and urged them to remove the keys from their vehicles.
Richard Marshall was returning a key to a tractor parked inside the barn Monday morning when the three men jumped him and began beating him with clubs. They tied him up and then stormed the house, where a surprised Keith Marshall, 56, was relaxing in a recliner.
Keith Marshall quit fighting when he realized he was outnumbered and might not survive. They bound him and began ransacking the house, taking more than $7,000 in cash, 10 firearms -- including high-powered rifles and three 9mm handguns -- and a bundle of ammunition.
Complaining of hunger, the escapees heated leftover chicken in a microwave and ate while they packed other articles -- including several changes of clothing, more frozen and canned food and a gasoline can. At one point, Keith Marshall told police, one of the escapees ordered another one to haul off soiled clothes because the blood contained their DNA.
A third brother, Barry Marshall, 50, who lives nearby, was unaware of what was unfolding when he drove over to tell them about a relative's funeral arrangements. He stepped in the door and was met by an escapee pointing a weapon at him.
The fugitives tied up Barry Marshall. They then moved a fairly new silver, diesel-powered pickup out of the way to get to a faded-green 1989 Ford Ranger 4x4 extended-cab pickup, and left.
The inmates warned "they'd come back and kill them if they didn't give them two hours" to get away before phoning police, the sheriff said.
Keith Marshall managed to free himself and to untie Barry Marshall.
Because the telephone had been ripped from the wall, Barry Marshall drove to his home about two miles away to call police and an ambulance.
Richard Marshall was found lying between two tractors in the barn. He was airlifted to Louisville.
Keith Marshall was treated at a hospital for head wounds.
Kentucky police said they're not familiar with Cockerell or Christopher Marshall, who is not related to the Marshall brothers.
Smith said Jerry Sargent's elderly mother still lives in the Dry Ridge area, in neighboring Grant County.
At the time of the escape, Sargent was serving 50 years for robbery and criminal confinement, Christopher Marshall was serving 50 years for dealing cocaine, and Cockerell was serving 20 years for burglary.
Their descriptions:
Cockerell, 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair. He was convicted in November of burglary and was serving a 20-year sentence.
Marshall, 5-foot-8, 188 pounds, with green eyes and brown hair. He was convicted in 1996 of dealing cocaine and was serving a 50-year sentence.
Sargent, 6-foot-5, 210 pounds with blue eyes and long red hair. He was convicted in 1988 of armed robbery and criminal confinement and was serving a 50-year sentence.
Anyone with information about their whereabouts is asked to call 911, Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040 or the U.S. Marshals 24-hour line in Lexington at 859-233-2513.
