Police search for fugitive jailed for two murders who escaped Quebec detention centre

SAINT-ALPHONSE-RODRIGUEZ, Que. — Quebec police continued searching Thursday for a federal inmate serving a sentence for two murders who escaped a minimum security facility north of Montreal Wednesday evening.

David Everett Alexson was last seen leaving the Waseskun Healing Lodge, a community residential and detention centre, around 6 p.m., according to Correctional Service of Canada.

Quebec provincial police said they learned that Alexson hitched a ride to Highway 343, just south of St-Alphonse-Rodriguez, about 95 kilometres north of Montreal. Investigators set up a command post around that stretch of highway Thursday afternoon to gather evidence about the fugitive inmate’s whereabouts. 

Alexson, 51, is serving an indeterminate sentence for two counts of second-degree murder and for arson, escape from lawful custody, prison breach with intent, assault against a peace officer and break and enter with intent.

Authorities say Alexson is five feet six inches tall and weighs 183 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair, a scar on his right hand and left arm, and several tattoos on his arms, chest and back. Police said he was last seen wearing a grey sweatshirt and jeans.

Correctional Service of Canada said it is working with provincial police to track down Alexson and that it will investigate how he managed to escape.

The Waseskun Healing Centre is a non-profit Indigenous organization affiliated with the federal correctional service, located in St-Alphonse-Rodriguez.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2021.

The Canadian Press