Stolen Truck Recovered in Ozark County

UPDATE: The truck believed to have been stolen by escaped inmate Jason Laird has been recovered in Ozark County, Missouri. Sedalia Police will continue to work with local authorities in Ozark County as well as Department of Corrections to investigate this incident. (Saturday morning)

UPDATE: From Pettis County Sheriff Brad Anders: "Not to cause greater alarm, but we just took a walk-in report of a stolen firearm left in a vehicle overnight in Hunters Ridge. We cannot discount that our escapee is now armed. It is a Bond Arms Rowdy .45-.410 over under handgun. Stay alert. He’s likely not in Pettis, but we will continue vigilance."

Just before 6 a.m. this morning, Sedalia Police were notified of the theft of a white Chevy Silverado pickup from a state maintenance shed that was broken into near Gate 11 of the Missouri State Fairgrounds.

Surveillance video at the shed indicated the vehicle was stolen around 11:30 p.m.

The vehicle is a white 2013 Chevrolet Silverado Duramax 2500 bearing Missouri state plate 110189M. The vehicle had chrome running boards.

Given the timing of the theft and Jason's disappearance, it is possible that Mr Laird stole the Silverado, Sedalia Police said.

44-year-old Mr Laird is a white male, 5' 03" tall, 160 pounds with blue eyes. If you see him or this vehicle, please do not approach and contact 911.

Laird was last seen in the northwest corner of the fairgrounds working on a grounds-keeping crew.