Mercer Breakout

TRENTON, N.J.: Authorities continued searching Friday for a two-time murderer who escaped from the Mercer County Jail in Hopewell.

The escape of Terrence M. Brewer, 38, who was to be sentenced in September for his June conviction, was discovered about 11 p.m. Thursday.

A preliminary investigation, however, determined that Brewer appears to have gone missing after a recreational session earlier in the day, Mercer County Prosecutor Daniel G. Giaquinto said.

Brewer, whose last residence was in Trenton, was last seen in Trenton wearing a gray sweat suit, Giaquinto said. He said Brewer is extremely dangerous and urged anyone spotting him to call 911 immediately.

The prosecutor said his office is conducting a criminal investigation into the escape. The probe involves the internal affairs unit of the county corrections department, which operates the jail.

Brewer was convicted June 13 in the murder of Andrew Powell, who was one of two people robbed by Brewer in Trenton in July 1998. The victims gave chase to Brewer, who turned and shot Powell, said Casey A. DeBlasio, a spokeswoman for Giaquinto.

Brewer also was convicted of a murder as a juvenile, DeBlasio said. Details on that case were not immediately available.

Brewer had been sentenced in 1986 to 10 to 20 years for robbery, and served 10 years at East Jersey State Prison before his parole, the state Corrections Department said. He was imprisoned in August 1998 for a parole violation, and was transferred to Mercer County custody in May.

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News