Records show more than 11,000 NC convicts on probation and parole are missing

Data reveal hundreds are out on probation or parole for assaulting women and other violent crimes like child abuse, kidnapping, rape and even murder.

Man linked to murders in two NC cities arrested in Greensboro

He's accused of one murder in Greensboro on Sept. 3, a Sept. 5 attack on a Charlotte-area greenway and a second murder, in Charlotte, on Sept. 6. He was arrested in Greensboro on Sept. 9.

"The state needs to be held accountable," Mothers of Murdered Offspring Coordinator Mark Raley said when WCNC informed him of the number of absconders. "Not only the blood of the victim is on the person who did it, the suspect, it's on the state as well."

The number of absconders today is lower than it was in 2018 when the state listed more than 13,000 absconders.

Community Corrections Director Tracy Lee wouldn't disclose the tactics and resources his agency uses to locate absconders but reiterated the state's commitment to finding these people.

"The number is high, higher than I would like and it is something that we are focused on and we have been focusing on for a while, but we're dealing with human behavior," Lee said. "There's only so much can control."

Community Corrections spokesman Greg Thomas released this statement:

"Community Corrections makes every effort, with the tools and resources available, to locate individuals who have absconded from probation, parole or post-release supervision.

When courts impose probation, parole or post-release supervision upon an offender, that individual agrees to a set of conditions, including regular contact with their probation/parole officer. Probation/parole officers work tirelessly to encourage offenders to follow their court-ordered supervision agreements providing them guidance and tools they can use to aid in successfully following the order of the court. "