A Lumberton man admitted last week to killing, kidnapping, and raping a 13-year-old girl in 2018. He had a history of targeting Hispanic victims and covered his face during the attack to conceal his identity.
New details are emerging in the case against Michael McLellan, 40, who received a life sentence on Friday for the murder of Hania Aguilar.
Following two escape attempts from the Robeson County Detention Center on the day of his court appearance, a North Carolina prison official told News13 Monday that he is now residing in the state’s most secure facility.
On November 5, 2018, McLellan admitted to killing the teen after taking her from her driveway in Rosewood Mobile Home Park.
The most secure facility in the state, Granville Correctional Institution in Butner, received McLellan, according to Keith Acree, a spokesman for the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, who spoke to News13 on Monday.
Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins reports that McLellan made two attempts to escape custody on Friday: once while en route to court, he concealed a key from detention center art supplies in his mouth, and another time while returning to jail.
Wilkin stated that McLellan was completely free of his handcuffs when he reached under a piece of plexiglass, released a lever on a deputy’s gun holster, and grabbed the weapon before being apprehended.
“State maximum facilities are high-security institutions designed primarily to house violent offenders with longer sentences, a history of violence, and creating problems for the staff,” according to a state Department of Public Safety description.
Heavy-duty perimeters with high, thick walls and reinforced fences typically host surveillance cameras. We prohibit inmates from working off-site or participating in community programs.
“Single and double cells with extremely limited movement make up housing. The cells are self-contained and designed for 23-hour detainment, according to NCDPS.”
They have no opportunity to interact with other inmates. People consider them the most dangerous of all incarcerated individuals.