A North Carolina escapee serving a life sentence for murder has been captured, authorities say

KANNAPOLIS, NC — An inmate serving a life sentence for murder was arrested early Friday, three days after escaping, while on his way to a doctor's appointment at a North Carolina hotel with the help of at least one person, authorities said.

Ramone Alston, 30, escaped from a van Tuesday as it pulled up to UNC Gastroenterology Hospital in Hillsborough, where he was being taken to a doctor's appointment. He broke free of his shackles and fled into the woods while handcuffed, according to the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.

Alston was arrested around 2 a.m. at a hotel in Kannapolis near Charlotte, about 110 miles (177 kilometers) southwest of Hillsborough, police said in a news release. No one was injured during the arrest. Alston is charged with criminal escape from prison, the news release said.

Alston was transferred to the maximum security cell at Granville Correctional Institution, the most secure in the state prison system, to begin serving his life sentence, Attorney General Todd Ishee said at a news conference Friday afternoon. Alston could face additional charges related to his escape.

Online court records did not list the case or an attorney who could represent Alston.

“While we cannot provide details on how Alston was found, I can assure you that it was the result of extraordinary investigative work and dedication by the team assembled for this outbreak,” Ishee said. “I am grateful to the people standing here with me today and the hundreds of police officers, deputies, agents and investigators who represent them, who all worked so hard and in great cooperation this week to get Alston back into custody.”

Officers will investigate whether anyone is eligible for the reward offered for information leading to Alston's arrest, Ishee said, adding that the department is conducting an internal investigation and review to identify areas where improvements can be made. The officers who transported Alston were not placed on leave but were assigned to duties other than transport.

Alston has been serving a life sentence at the Bertie Correctional Institution in Windsor since his conviction for the killing of one-year-old Maleah Williams. One-year-old Maleah Williams was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting on Christmas Day 2015 as she played outside her family's Chapel Hill apartment. She died three days later.

A woman described as an acquaintance of Alston was arrested shortly afterward in Alamance County and charged with aiding and abetting escape, police said. Investigators believe she drove Alston around, but it's not clear when and where, or whether she was the only person who did so, police spokesman Keith Acree said by phone.

Alston's relationship with her began several months ago and was largely conducted by phone, Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood said at the news conference. Officials are investigating whether anyone else was involved.