A large-scale manhunt is underway following the escape of an inmate from the Monroe Correctional Complex on Friday, as authorities scour the surrounding areas in a frantic effort to locate the fugitive.
59-year-old Patrick Lester Clay, the inmate in question, is said to have executed his escape by sneaking into a staff office during customary maintenance cleaning and making off with a set of keys to a staff member's vehicle which according to the Department of Corrections was then used by Clay to drive off the complex property the Department of Corrections has enlisted search teams and local police in the effort to recapture Clay.
Clay, who faces multiple convictions including burglary, malicious mischief, harassment, and theft from King County, was scheduled for release on December 24, 2025, a year shy from when he made the bold dash for freedom. King5 News reports that the escapee was last seen driving a white four-door GMC Sierra truck, sporting the license plate number C39525X, and adorned in a khaki ensemble complemented by a yellow Department of Corrections vest.
Amidst the scramble to bring Clay back into custody, members of the public like Eichner voice trepidation, signaling concerns over the security adequacy at the correctional facility, "It should not be that easy to grab keys and take off," voiced Chris Wright, the Communication Director for the Department of Corrections, in a statement that reverberates the unsettled sentiment Wright told KOMO News, "I think the primary focus right now is finding him and getting him back in custody and doing a thorough review of what happened or if anything went wrong or what can be done to prevent this from happening again."
As the investigation into the lapse in security continues, the Monroe Police Department has released a photo of the stolen truck to aid in the search, and the DOC has confirmed that alongside Clay's standard-issue clothing, he may have access to a blue-grey zip-up sweatshirt and a black ballcap that were reported to have been in the car at the time of the escape, per information gathered by FOX13 Seattle. The public is urged to stay vigilant and report any potential sightings of Clay or the vehicle in question.
