SANFORD, N.C. — UPDATE: Law enforcement officials flying a drone found Mabe in the woods a short distance from Sanford Correctional Center. He was arrested around midnight on Friday. Mabe will be held at the Central Prison in Raleigh and will face charges for escape.
Corrections and law enforcement officers are searching for Johnathan Mabe who escaped Friday morning from Sanford Correctional Center, a minimum-security prison facility.
Officials said Mabe, 40, is a white male who stands 6'0 tall, weighs about 200 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. He also has ties to the Sanford area.
Mabe has a long criminal history and was readmitted to prison on Sept. 4 to serve a four-year sentence as a habitual felon. He was expected to be released in December 2026.
Anyone with information on Mabe's whereabouts is asked to call 911 or Sanford Correctional Center at 919-895-7036.
MORE WAYS TO GET WFMY NEWS 2
Download the WFMY News 2 APP from your Apple or Google Play store.
ADD THE WFMY+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or search for WFMY.
Amazon Fire TV: Search for WFMY to find the free app to add to your account. You can also add the app directly to your Fire TV through your Amazon account.
