Sightings of prison escapee reported in Carson City

The Carson City Sheriff's Department received four reports Friday of possible sightings of escaped prison inmate and convicted murderer James Keith Prestridge.

Prestridge, 38, was being transported by a private extradition company from a Nevada prison to North Dakota when he escaped in the San Diego area March 29. Because he has old acquaintances who still live in Carson City, his photograph was released by law authorities and appeared in the Nevada Appeal on Friday.

One sighting was reported about 6:20 a.m. by a man who said he may have seen Prestridge about 9 p.m. Thursday in the 1500 block of Continental Drive.

A detective broadcast an officer safety alert later in the morning, saying that two possible sightings of the suspect had been reported in the Hot Springs Road and Winnie Lane areas. A travel agent reported at 11:45 a.m. that she had taken a telephoned flight reservation from a man who was very suspicious and may have been Prestridge.

And a report of a man playing craps at the Carson Nugget Casino who matched Prestridge's description was received at 9:24 p.m. Two deputies went to the casino on the last report and the matter was settled at the scene with no arrest made.

Authorities have warned they believe Prestridge is armed and dangerous after he took a handgun from the extradition officer when he escaped last month. Another inmate who escaped in the same incident was found shot to death in Mexico a few days later.

He is also believed to have stolen a pick-up in Reno.

Before the escape, Prestridge was serving a life sentence for the 1989 murder of a pizza parlor manager in Washoe County. He was being taken to North Dakota under a prisoner exchange agreement.

Carson City Sheriff's intelligence officer Tom Casey said sightings of Prestridge should be reported immediately to 911. People with other information may call the detectives division at 887-2020 ext. 1902.