A daring jailbreak at Craven County Jail in New Bern has triggered an extensive manhunt for an inmate with a history of violent encounters with law enforcement.
According to ABC News, John Matthew Nigh, 37, who was being held on attempted murder charges, managed to escape through the jail's ventilation system on Sunday afternoon with assistance from his cellmates.
The escape was discovered when detention officers found Nigh missing from his cell at 4 p.m. Sunday. His cellmates had cleverly concealed his absence by stuffing a mattress to create the illusion that he was sleeping, giving him crucial time to execute his escape plan through the ceiling grating and utility chase.
Justin Matthew Axe, 32, of Havelock, and Timothy Lee Carawan, 35, of New Bern, have been arrested and charged for their roles in facilitating Nigh's escape. The Craven County Sheriff's Office has indicated that more arrests are expected as the investigation unfolds.
The sheriff's office has announced plans to conduct a thorough internal investigation into the circumstances leading to the escape. They are also working with Craven County Maintenance to address security vulnerabilities within the facility that may have contributed to the incident.
The U.S. Marshals Service and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations have joined forces in the manhunt, offering a substantial reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to Nigh's capture.
The U.S. Marshals Service has emphasized Nigh's extensive criminal background, which includes attempted murder of law enforcement, drug-related offenses, and weapons charges. His most recent arrest occurred in June 2024 following a violent confrontation with law enforcement.
During that incident, Nigh allegedly fired shots at three deputies in Onslow County who were attempting to apprehend him on multiple felony charges from Pamlico County. Fortunately, none of the officers were injured in the shooting.
According to reports from the sheriff's office, Nigh has been "armed in past encounters" with law enforcement, leading authorities to warn that he should be considered armed and dangerous.
Law enforcement has released a comprehensive description of Nigh to aid in his capture. Standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing 190 pounds, he has several distinctive tattoos, including a cross on his right arm, the initials "JMN" on his upper left arm, "LIFE" on his left leg, and "TRIBAL" on his right shoulder.
The Craven County Sheriff's Office provided the following statement regarding the escape:
A search determined that the inmate, assisted by his two cellmates, had removed a ceiling grating, entered a utility ceiling chase and exited the roof through a ventilation housing. The cellmates concealed his escape by stuffing a mattress, making it appear that he was sleeping in his cell.
As of Tuesday, authorities have received information about Nigh's possible whereabouts and are actively pursuing all leads in their search efforts.
John Matthew Nigh, a 37-year-old inmate with a history of violent encounters with law enforcement, orchestrated an elaborate escape from Craven County Jail in New Bern through the facility's ventilation system. The escape, discovered on Sunday afternoon, was made possible by the assistance of his two cellmates, who now face criminal charges. Law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations, have launched a comprehensive manhunt for the dangerous fugitive. While authorities continue to pursue leads regarding Nigh's whereabouts, they have implemented a reward system and are conducting an internal investigation to prevent similar security breaches in the future.
