Police have launched a direct appeal to a convicted murderer who escaped from the Stockfarm State Prison this week.
“Call a lawyer, call the commissioner, call a priest, call a pastor, but turn yourself in,“ Police Public Relations Officer Inspector Claude Weekes advised.
Thirty-six-year-old Steven Alphonse of Belles escaped from the Stockfarm State Prison for the third time on Wednesday and efforts by prison officials and the police to find him have so far proved futile.
Alphonse was serving a 40-year sentence for the vicious murder of a young woman. He was initially sentenced to death in 1993, but appealed the case and in 2007 the sentence was commuted to 40 years.
According to Inspector Weekes, besides posing a threat to others, Alphonse has also placed himself in danger.
“Is the family [of the victim] going to have faith in the prison system?…It doesn’t make sense to be a fugitive from his country. When he stays outside he makes himself open to reprisal and retribution,” Inspector Weekes explained.
In a previous escape, Alphonse made his way to Guadeloupe where he stayed for some time before he was deported to Dominica.
On Wednesday, January 27 prisoners were engaged in extracting coal from a coal pit between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:40 p.m., with time off for lunch. Prison officials noticed that Alphonse was missing when there was a change of shift and a head count was conducted.
Inspector Weekes has expressed disappointment in the fact that Alphonse has escaped for the third time. According to him, while he is not singling out anyone for blame, extra caution should have been taken with such a prisoner.
“Somebody has to answer that,” he told Dominica News Online.
“They [prison officials] cannot tell us if is a helicopter that pick him up…if is a hole he dug in the ground….it is mysterious,” Inspector Weekes said.
Meanwhile, the police official is urging the public to report any information they may have concerning the whereabouts of the escaped prisoner. “It may seem insignificant, but it could be vital,” he added.
Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of the escaped prisoner should contact the nearest police station or call 266-5164, 266-5165, 266-5185, 266-5117 or 266-5119.
Dominica News Online will continue to update you on this situation.
my fellow dominicans kill this / the cops wont do it
How can a man who was convicted of a seriouse crime like murder , who tried to escape more than once be trusted out in the open… the prison officers are to be blamed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Inspector Weekes knows very well what the problem is. Not enough prison officers employed in the
prison service. Check de statistics, almost 300 inmates and how many officers? The same neglect that is affecting all the various sectors of society, where Govt collecting taxes left right and center and
the services which these taxes are supposed to be used to maintain and upgrade sitting down there like bois poowee in de bush. No body cares until something terrible happens. De minister of natiional secuirty both past and present need to take a good look at de way they managing (they and their PS, and the heads of departments) the institutions that fall under their portfolio. Take a look at the Police Service, prison service, nursing service, teaching service, they all have problems one of which is that they operating the same way they operated 30 to 40 years ago. Who cares? How you can have officers using primitive methods of supervision and management checking high tech 21st century – no 22nd century criminals? Everybody going to de “next level” so fast , nobody bothered about any damn thing that going in de reverse.
Zor kai sav oui domnichen!
FIRST OFF ALL IF HE WAS FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER N HE WAS SENTENCE 2 DEATH Y DID D SYSTEM AGREE 2 APPEAL D CASE N GIVE HIM 40 YEARS INSTEAD?HE SHOULD NT BE GRANTED NO APPEAL SO RIGHT THERE N THERE HE IS PLAYING YOU GUYS A PAPPY SHOW. IS TOO MUCH LIGHT HE SEEING BLIND HIM SO HE CAN PUT HIS TAIL IN A CORNER.
Haven`t the Venequelans escape yet?
Give the prison officers a break? Nonsense! They should know better! Only a moron would allow This criminal to leave the prison at all after his attempts to escape and based on his heinous crime! WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DEATH PENALTY? All this would have been avoided if he had been hung like he deserved. Ah! magwaysar! No justice for the victim.
Some oficers heads need to roll for this slackness! There should be an investigation now! what on earth is goingon a the prison? SLACKNESS!
This is very serious…..who knows what intention that man could have and his whereabouts is already unknown something need to be done URGENTLY!! the family of the victim could be harrasted, just the fact of being in jail for the sake of there loved one……he have to be caught soon!!!
give the prison officers a break, there are no more that five officers for a shift, five men to look after 300 convicts, the government needs to improve the work and staff conditions at the prison. besides that man have been in jail for half his life. what would u do?
It looks like as they bring down this man sentence the prison system terminate his security. Things working backwards nowadays. Anyway three times is a charm, and we all know that this man has no intentions of being caught, so police officer though i pray that you apprehend him you may have your work caughtout for you.
I personally think that someone has to be responsible for this ridiculous management of such a dangerous convict. I’ve never heard of a murderer being able to step foot out of the prison for “Hard Labor” purposes. This man has a reputation for escaping and eluding police and yet the right steps and containment haven’t been utilized to curb this individual. If it was up to me, I would personally issue a “Shoot on Site” command upon this guy. He’s very dangerous and I would guess he’s most likely armed, seeing that he’s wanted and knows that force is most likely going to be used to fish him out. The prison system in my opinion needs to be reviewed and upgraded to a more up to date state. Also the manner in which inmates qualify to leave the prison grounds should also be reviewed, making changes that’s going to make it tougher for high profile inmates to get that sort of privilege.
so it seems 2 be a habit. i wonder what kind of prison dominica prison is all about. do a crime escape anytime. jail time is free at last
I am very familiar with this prisoner, let make take the opportunity to warn every member of the public with this guy. he is a very dangerous individual, with no heart. he was sentence to hanging for cutting off the head of a very young child in belles, and his sentence was reduced to 40 years in prison. now the truth is the …i remembered the first time he escaped, he was brought to belles to cut wood and that ws it, he ran away. he had a gun searching for witnesses in the case, belles people couldn’t sleep, and i am very sure the entire village of belles is very frightened by this guy escaping, becuz they know wat kind of person he dealing with. i personally belive an investigation should commence immediately, and everyone who was responsible for haveing that prisoner out making coal should be fired. again i am warning the people of dominica if u have any where abouts of this guy call the closest police station or the cid, this prisoner is not one anyone would like to mess with. i am also recommending that the police officers shoot this guy on sight.
What they should do is do like in the U.S. and with-hold the other prisoners’ exercise time outside until somebody talks. I bet you anything information will start flowing. Prisoners always know what’s going on when there’s an escape from prison.
It is time the police takes their investigations one step further to the state prison. Too many times inmates, who are deemed dangerous are left to escape from …..It is time that something is done. Prison officers dont go looking around for escape prisoners or they are not discipline whenever inmate(s) escape from the state prison. A prisoner that has escaped prison many times before and is serving time for a grusome murder on a 16 years old girl, should be in the security blocks section of the prison and not on the outside making coals.
as police see that man the should kill him
This is a guy who grew up in the bushes in bells……he knows how to travel through the mountains and get from one area of the island to the next so he has a big advantage on the police. Every body afraid of mister I remember I was a young girl when it happened he chopped up that girl by a phone booth in bells if my memory serves me he was either inlove with her and she didn’t feel the same way or they were together and she no longer wanted to be with him. The end result was when he chopped that girl into pieces I remember her neck was taken off. A shoot to kill order should be given if this guy is found. He is not sorry for his crime…..he keeps escaping he will do it again!
Anyone with half a brain would not have allowed a convicted murderer who had escaped twice to be out in the open.
That is an indication of how slackly things are run in Dominica.
Unbelievable!!
While we climbing to the next level, nobody seeing those kings of things? Dominica is a small island with a small prison. How can you have a convicted murderer, who has previously escaped twice, digging for coals? Aren’t there enough prisoners to dig the coal pit? I will say what my dear inspector is afraid to say, Something is wrong and somebody have to pay for it. Who was supervising the digging? Where did he pass? Who did he pay? Who helped him to escape? If he was such a flight risk (going to Guadeloupe) and an accomplished escape artist, why wasn’t he shakled? What is wrong with you incompetent and lazy people?
This is very alarming, a convicted murderer out digging coal? is this real, i know that Dominica is not as bad as most of the caribbean islands with violence but please when a man murder someone he should not be out digging any thing any where, this should be left for someone that was cought with a little ganga and could not pay the fine or a man that steal something not a murderer, our system needs to be tightened up, these criminals are getting smarter, and this one guy seems to know what he is doing to escape, minister if this is an inside job or not some one should get fired for allowing your citizens to leave in fear out of carelessness, because thier is no way this man should have been out there doing coal digging. someone has to be held accountable!!!!
Law enforcers in Dominica are just a big joke. That is all i have to say on that
Its 6pm and my doors are closed.I am trembling like a leaf.Can the Minister of National Security say something to the Dominican people.
Mondieu..mister face look like a criminal..Young girls of my village let this stranger pass straight all you know how all you like to pick up strange men? any way this one is a criminal and wanted by the police..if you take him to your house poison his water because if you give him chance he will take you out..word!!
How did he kill her? That’s sad!!
Did this man have his own keys or has someone at the prison befriended him?
A 3 times excapee is an embarrassment for the system and heads should roll high and low.
This man is extremely dangerous as he has proved and should have been treated as a CAT A
Prisoner, not out with a work party but on total lock down. Now the public at large are in danger.
Have we had any statement from Goverment?
I feel very sorry for the victim family who now have more turmol to deal with.
I hope that this situation comes to an end swiftly. And a full inquiry is held ASAP.
we need to look at the prison officers very close a man can’t just disapper .WHO WAS WITH HIM? WHERE DID HE PASS? WHO USE TO VISIT HIM?WHAT WERE THEY TALKING ABOUT? WAS HE CLOSE TO THE OFFICERS/MANY QUSTIONS WITH NO ANSWER.THERE ARE MANY WHO NEED TO BE CHECK OUT. I HAVE HEARD MANY THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THIS PRISON .WHAT IS A MURDER DO IN PICK IN UP COALS A MAN CAUGHT WITH DRUGS LOCK UP NO OUTSIDE.BUT THAT ONE IS.THE MURDER CELL FULL MAN .WHAT REALLY GO IN ON.
This man wants to stay out of prison and will do so at any cost so he must be very dangerous. This is his third times that he has escaped from prison so this indicates that he will do any thing to stay out of prison even if it means killing again. I recommend that this man be shut on site by the cops or even a private citizen since he is a threat to the public. hope he dont come my way.
@HONEY MAN THAT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE. SOMEONE CAN STILL USE A FAKE NAME AND A FAKE EMAIL ADDRESS… AND ITS NOT WHO SAY WHAT. ITS THE COMMENTS THAT COUNTS. THEIR OPINIONS AND CONCERNS. IN RELATION TO THE MATTER AT HAND. AFTER BEING CONVICTED FOR LIFE, THEN 40 YRS FOR MURDER I BELIEVE THE PRISONER SHOULD BE UNDER MAXIMUM SECURITY….ESPECIALLY AFTER HAVING 2 PREVIOUS ESCAPES.. THOROUGH INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE DONE ON THE INSIDE.
and what was wrong with maximum security ? this guy wasnt suppose to be no where close to the gate .
A convicted murder was on death row, escaped twice and was still allowed to be out doing service? Maybe the Govt Should finally look into putting some money into the correctional facilities and police force in the Island
The minister of security should have a press confrence and appeal to the public for help and should take measures in the state prison to prevent escapes.
A prisoner like that should be under maximum security.
The fact that such a dangerous criminal has managed to escape three times is an indication to how slack prison security is.
I think there is a case from the 1950s when a man had chopped-up a nurse with a cutlass. That criminal was sent to prison in Jamaica. Has anyone heard about that case?
If stockfarm has not successfully locked this man up how are they going to hold these international drug and gun traffickers who have far more resources on the outside?
Security of the prison service has many implications for public confidence in the legal system as a whole. People are going to be very reluctant to serve as witnesses or jurors for example if they believe that someone can easily escape from prison to take revenge on them.
The prison service is a joke.
Shouldnt he be in medium or high security if he is constantly escaping? If he was then he should be indoors and not be allowed to go out, then that would not be a problem on hand
I think while all of us dominicans are giving our views we have to keep our guards up cuz it aint going to be easy this time around to catch this guy.We have to look out for each other and knowing dat we are in the carnival season its goin to be real difficult.>Lets make sure our doors and windows are always closed and our kids are close to us.
Mr minister of national security please launch an investigation into the operation of the state corrections facility without delay. Check the following 1. ratio of prisoners to officers 2. command and controll systems at the institution 3 security as it relates to fencing and 4 establishing a maximum security wing to house people like the escapee. Some one mentioned finger printing and photographing, are these things being done ?
@HONEYMAN…… Why wait on DNO, set the example and come out behind your fonny name coward. Stop being so hypocritical. AOL, MSN all big giants and their commentors don’t have to post their real names. Some people make no sense.
just hang mr stupz
bad break
I Look forward to the day D.N. O will make it mandatory for evey one submiting comments to give their real name, email adress,ect,ect, Trust me when that happens we all will benifit greatly cause those persons hiding behind those ridiculous names will not dare reavel their true identity. Untill that happens some of us will have to put up with the gabbage that comes from the likes. I will wait to see D.N.O position on the matter.
pm skerrit call a press conference an announce a reasonable bounty for anyone who can turn this scary guy in, dead or alive. then investigate the prison system and do changes were necessary. HEADS GOT TO ROLL. SOMEBODY MUST TAKE THE BLAME. also the judge should carry some of that blame. find this dud and hang him.
he was sentenced to death and then death sentence turns 40 yrs for viciousley murderiing some one ?he escaped 2 b4 and was still out digging coals. if this man is left a chance again who knows if he will not kill again. this man should ..it should be a wanted dead message out for this man and if this is a recent picture u can spell wickedness in this man ?what is he doing out there?this is one of the area that the system fails us.they speak of human rights for criminals but the victims of these criminals have no right?and what eats me the most ,these animals are made to eat the moneys of the very person familys that they have murdered . what a wicked system, who gets justice? the criminals and the victims are given the hard end of the stick up our anuses. what a shame
if you see him, just … if is me i would not bother call police, cause he going escape again the man just need to hang
is that a current picture!!! prison really fatten people….
that’s y i like j/a police they would just shoot him when they find him and plant a weapon on him afterwards. guys like that have no right to be a part of the society.
This is the third time the man is escaping from prison? Am i dreaming?We have to stop playing games with the public,and the deceades relatives.If there is the need for more prison officers,whoever is respondible do something urgently.PLEASE TAKE US TO A NEW LEVEL IN OUR SECURITY.
only 40 years for murder??? well if it’s 40 years they want to give him should be 40 years of solitary confinement in a 10×10.
For those wondering this is the most current photo available of this criminal. By the look of his vicious face if you see him I don’t think you will be wondering if he is the guy!
THE DOMINICA POLICE FORCE CAN’T CATCH THIS CRIMINAL ON THEIR OWN AND NEED OUR HELP AS CITIZENS OF DOMINICA. ANY ONE WITH INFO SHOULD CONTACT THE POLICE!!!
NO ONE IS SAFE UNLESS THIS CRIMINAL IS CAUGHT AND PLACED BACK INTO PRISON WHERE HE BELONGS!!!
Omg I remember that guy he viciously killed that girl chopped her up……I remember after it happened they couldn’t find him people were afraid to be out of their house…..I hope they catch him and give him more time for escaping. The poor girls family….
how can you have a man with 3 previous attempts of escape out digging coal tham man should be confined to his cel untill he is broken. the entire prison should be held responsible.
Is this photo a recent one or years back ? we need a recent mug short of this guy. Did he have that hair style on his head or clean cut at time of escape? Is the prison taking finger prints and mug shorts of these guys while the up in stokie?
People need work. Put a bounty on his head. $5,000 for info leading to his capture. $10,000 if you catch him. An extra 10k if he is captured dead. Save tax payers money. Give citizens (Law abiding) the right to protect themselves if they come in contact with this fellow. He has killed once and will kill again especially if he is an escapee.
….
THE PRISON OFFICERS AND THE PRISON GUARDS ARE TO BE BLAMED. THE SYSTEM IS TO BE BLAMED HOW CAN YOU HAVE UNARMED GUARDS LOOKING AFTER A CONVICTED MURDERER? THE MAN ESCAPED 3 TIMES! IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING IS NOT WORKING. THIS MAN COULD HAVE GONE TO HARM WITNESSES. THE SYSTEM NEEDS AN OVERHAUL.
Facts are stubborn things. There seems to be a definite problem at the prison and the matter should be investigated and corrected. We cant just blame the prisoner officers but lets be honest, it took them a whole day to notice a murderer and twice escaped felon at that was missing. Give me a flipping break…pleaseeeeez! I happen to know the escapee very well and I can assure you all that he will not hesitate to kill or maim anyone who comes in his way. That man was a criminal from childhood.
Now instead of focusing on other security issues the police have to spend valuable time looking for this murderer thanks to their brothers in arms at the state prison. I therefore call on the PM to take this opportunity and make a thorough investigation into the entire operations of the prison system. As far as I am concerned, heads should roll because this is the third time that this murder has escaped. How can we claim to be protecting the public when convicted murders can walk in and out of prison at will? I smell a rat with this escape………a whole day before someone missed him? ..
who to blame inspector weeks?
fansois escaspe where steve ascape. the public coming the same sport an slaughter pigs and go.
when four officer working a shift and have to man 300 inmates u thing thats a bed of roses.
police coming and get 4 inmates to court at portmouth they coming with m16 and 20 police officer.
I hope the SSU catch up with him sooner rather than later. Heads have to roll in this unreliable prison