Convicted murderer missing after stealing truck from prison

Michael Dowda

By Monica Land

Michael Dowda

PARCHMAN – Prison officials issued an alert Saturday afternoon advising that an inmate serving a life sentence for murder was missing after working on prison grounds at Parchman.

Forty-eight-year-old Michael Dowda was last seen around 3 p.m., Sept. 22 wearing an MDOC state-issued white shirt and green and white striped pants. Authorities said Dowda was on a work detail with maintenance at the time of his escape and they believe he drove away in a 2005 Silverado truck that was on the prison grounds.

The stolen truck has a Yalobusha County disabled license plate with the tag number 0922.

Dowda, who weighs 195 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes, is considered armed and very dangerous, prison officials said.

Dowda is serving a life sentence for a homicide/murder conviction in Harrison County.

Visitation to the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman was closed to the general public Sunday due to Dowda’s escape.

Anyone with information as to his whereabouts should contact their local law enforcement agency or the Mississippi Department of Corrections at 601.573.5613 or 662.745.6611.

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