Two Grayson County Detention Center prisoners walked off the inmate work program Wednesday, June 18. The crew, which picks up trash along the roadway, was working on Highway 110 in Falls of Rough when Jake Embry and Jeffrey Tharp walked away from their assignments.

Crews are supervised by jailer deputies and according to Trooper David Norris, who is investigating the escape, Embry and Tharp got around a bend in the road out of sight of the supervisor. The inmates were discovered to be missing around 10:30 a.m. One hour later, the area was saturated with officers searching for the escaped prisoners.

Norris said inmates who work away from the jail are approved by Frankfort and are generally considered trustworthy. Additionally, inmates are not informed of the work location until they arrive on scene, which leads Norris to believe the escape was a spur-of-the-moment decision.

"Neither have a history of violent crimes," said Norris, "but residents should take extra precautions to lock homes, garages and vehicles."

Tharp and Embry will be charged with escape in the second degree, which can add one to five years to their current sentence, which Norris said was less than one year for both. Tharp had one charge of receiving stolen property and Embry had charges of possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, use/possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and a persistent felony offense.

Neither inmate has been located. Trooper Norris will continue the investigation.

If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of either Embry or Tharp, call 911 or the Kentucky State Police at 270-766-5078.