Cop killer escapes from prison

James Hutchison, the man convicted of killing two Moncton police officers in 1974 has escaped from a minimum security prison in Kingston, Ontario.

The double slaying committed by James Hutchison and his partner Richard Ambrose was so gruesome it stunned the community.

It started with the kidnapping of 14-year old Raymond Stein - the son of well known restaurateur Cy Stein. He agreed to drop off a $15,000 ransom at a mall. His son was released safely.

Corporal Aurele Bourgeois and Constable Michael O'Leary were on duty that day. They called in that they were following a Cadillac. They were never heard from again.

Three days later their bodies were found in shallow graves just outside of Moncton. The killers had forced them to dig their own graves.

The two men were sentenced to death by hanging. But, when capital punishment was abolished their sentence was commuted to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.

Earlier this year, 51-year old Richard Ambrose was released on full parole. However, Hutchison has been described as unrepentant and unlikely ever to be paroled.

Ontario Provincial Police say Hutchison walked away from a civilian escort Wednesday afternoon. He has been doing volunteer work at the Kingston Humane Society.

James Hutchison is now 73. He is 5-foot 8-inches tall with brown and grey hair and green eyes. He has a tattoo of a heart with the names Carole and Janet on his upper left arm.

He's considered armed and dangerous and shouldn't be approached.