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New York man remains at large from Broughton Hospital

By Lisa Majors-Duff
Jackson County law enforcement officers are looking for a man they say escaped from a mental institution in Morganton.

Troy Dale Terry, 31, of New York City, was arrested here May 15 on charges of breaking and entering and larceny of firearms. He was being held on a $10,000 bond with a court date of June 6.

His charges stemmed from larcenies officers say he committed in the Wilmot area. He arrived in Jackson County after violating his parole in New York, according to Detective Darrin Young of the Jackson County Sheriff's Department.

"He'd only been out of prison there a few days when he stole a car and traveled to Knoxville, (Tenn.)," Young said. "From there he traveled the Gatlinburg, on to Cherokee and to a campground in Wilmot."

The larcenies Terry is charged with occurred to residences around the campground, Young said. He then stole another vehicle and traveled to Atlanta, where he was attempting to steal another car when he was caught, Young said. While in jail in Atlanta, Terry attempted suicide and confessed to two murders in Jackson County.

After charges in Atlanta were dismissed, Terry was extradited back to Jackson County, where investigators determined he was lying about homicides in the area. While being held in the Jackson County Jail, he attempted suicide again, Young said, as a way of luring a jailor into his cell where he was either planning an escape or to take a hostage.

Terry was transported on May 23 to Broughton Hospital, from which he escaped through a window at approximately 11 p.m., said Young. His direction and mode of travel were unknown.

"Troy is considered to be armed and dangerous," Young said. "Any contact with the subject should be reported to the Sheriff's Department."

Terry is described as a white male, approximately 5-foot, 5-inches tall at a weight of 140 pounds. He has blue eyes and red hair. The subject is also described as having multiple tattoos on his body, the most prominent of which are two lightning bolts filled with teal green ink on the left side of his neck.

In addition to the charges of breaking and entering and larceny, Terry now faces charges of fugitive from justice and escape. His past criminal history, according to Young, includes drug abuse, mental illness, assault on a law enforcement officer, attempted suicide and hostile behavior. Terry, who has been known to law enforcement to use numerous aliases, is also wanted on various charges in other states.

Those with information about Terry should call the Jackson County Sheriff's Department at 586-8901.

In other information from the Sheriff's Department, those arrested during the week of May 21-28 included:

Travis Jack Williamson of Greer, S.C., on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and a controlled substance. His bond was set at $1,000.

Charles Ray Howell of Sylva on charges of stalking. His bond was set at $1,000.

Leoda Joe Mathis of Sylva on charges of assault on a female. No bond was set at the time of the arrest.

Jorge Juarez of Cullowhee on charges of attempted second-degree rape. His bond was set at $25,000.

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