Sheriff's deputies searching for escaped prisoner

Barrow County Sheriff's deputies are searching for an inmate who walked away from a work detail at about 2:45 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12. Sheriff Jud Smith said Ross Eugene Hilmo of 478 Browns Bridge Road in Auburn was part of a nine-inmate crew cutting grass on county property along Tom Miller Road between Highway 81 South and Haymon Morris Road. Hilmo requested permission to use a nearby restroom but instead kept walking.
The sheriff said the deputy guarding the work detail could not follow Hilmo because he had to continue supervising eight other inmates. Hilmo is described as a white male, 5-feet 10 inches tall and weighing about 180 pounds. He has brown hair and a slight beard. He was last seen wearing an orange jumpsuit and black boots. He was not armed when he left the detail. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to call 911.