The Escape and Capture of Roy Burgess

On a quiet Sunday afternoon in Lincolnton, North Carolina, alarms sounded at the Lincoln Correctional Center. Authorities confirmed that 42‑year‑old Roy Burgess had slipped away from the minimum‑security prison where he was serving time for larceny. What followed was a tense manhunt that stretched across state lines and stirred fear in nearby communities.

Burgess was no stranger to the justice system. Records show a criminal history of low‑level felonies spanning nearly two decades. At the time of his escape, he was serving a short sentence — just one to two years — with a scheduled release in January 2027. But his decision to flee turned a minor conviction into a major crisis.

Law enforcement agencies quickly mobilized. The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, the State Bureau of Investigation, and local police in Gaston County launched a search, warning residents that Burgess might seek help from relatives or acquaintances in the Dallas and Gastonia areas. Officials described him as 5’11”, 180 pounds, with brown hair, blue eyes, a beard, and tattoos including “BNG” on his neck. Reports suggested he may have sustained injuries during the escape, possibly bleeding from cuts.

By Monday morning, the chase ended. Agents from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and deputies from the York County Sheriff’s Office captured Burgess in York County, South Carolina. He was taken into custody without incident. Officials expressed relief at the swift resolution, with NC Department of Adult Correction Secretary Leslie Cooley Dismukes thanking partner agencies for their rapid response.

For now, Burgess remains incarcerated in South Carolina while awaiting extradition proceedings back to North Carolina. The escape is under investigation, with officials working to determine how he managed to slip away from a minimum‑security facility.

Key Facts

Name: Roy Burgess

Age: 42

Escape Date: December 7, 2025

Location: Lincoln Correctional Center, Lincolnton, NC

Sentence: 1–2 years for larceny, release date January 2027

Capture: December 8, 2025, York County, SC

Criminal Record: Multiple low‑level felonies over 20 years

Status: In custody in South Carolina, awaiting extradition

Bottom Line: What began as a minor larceny sentence escalated into a multi‑state manhunt. Roy Burgess’s escape shows how even minimum‑security facilities can face serious breaches — and how quickly law enforcement must act to protect communities.

Author: Quarla Blackwell