Escapee Still at Large

For the second time this month inmates broke out of the Kay County jail located in Newkirk, Oklahoma.
This time Darrin Dewayne Muegge, 40, and Terrance Lucas Cottingham, 18, escaped through an auxillary door on the north side of the facility June 23.

The sheriff's department reports that Muegge was discovered missing at 12:23 a.m. while Cottingham was discovered missing at 2:45 a.m.

Cottingham was captured without incident Tuesday by Ponca City police.

The escape was Muegge's second in an 18 day span.

On June 5, he and Christopher Monce Barrera, 21, and Donald Lee Chapman, 23, used a piece a metal from a bunk bed to pry open an auxillary door on the southside of the facility. A malfunctioning cell door allowed the inmates access to the door on that night.

The three were captured on June 7 at the Guest Inn in Ponca City.

Monday, Cottingham and Muegge are believed to have used a bean hole cover to pry open the auxillary door.
One man was later arrested for attempting to smuggle McDonald's hamburgers, tobacco, and a cell phone in to the jail through the open door.

Muegge's criminal history includes several felony drug charges, driving under the influence, unauthorized use of a vehicle, feloniously possession of a firearm, attempt to elude police, a 1999 felony charge of escape, and a 2008 felony charge of escape. He was being held on a $1,000,000 bond.

Cottingham is charged in several burglaries that occurred in Ponca City including Food Pyramid at 904 South Fourth Street, Stewart Title, Hawkins Real Estate and James Bailey Law Office, all located on Lake Road, and Skate World on Knight Avenue. He was later charged with second degree arson in connection with the fire that destroyed Bartlett Building Center. He was being held on a $200,000 bond.

This is the third escape in less than a year at the county jail.
On July 19, Ronald W. Fitzpatrick, 42, John Richard Dixey, 40, and Paul David Cox Jr., 25, escaped the jail through the south side auxillary door.
The three were later returned to custody.