By Rich McKay

(Reuters) – Officials said that three inmates in a Missouri county jail had fled after ripping through the plaster ceiling in their cells and climbing to a maintenance door leading outside.

Lance Stephens (29), Matthew Crawford (29), and Christopher Blevins (37) escaped the Barry County Jail in Cassville about 275 mi (443 km southwest) of St. Louis on Friday morning. Officials did not provide any information about how long they had been away before the guards realized that they were gone.

Barry County Sheriff Danny Boyd said that all three men are believed to be dangerous and armed.

Boyd and a representative of the sheriff were not available for further details. According to the sheriff, there is no evidence that these men were assisted by jail staff or any other prisoners.

Blevins, Stephens, and Crawford were held on drug and weapon charges. According to an online list of inmates, Crawford was also in jail for theft charges.

U.S. authorities have taken over the case. Marshals Service. Marshals Service representatives were not available immediately for comment.

Two months ago, an Alabama prisoner escaped after he was helped by a female corrections officer.

Vicky White (56), a corrections officer, helped Casey White (38) in that murder case. Vicky went on the run for Casey White (48) over several weeks. The two were not connected.

According to some reports, the corrections officer had been transporting Casey White into courthouse to undergo a mental evaluation. They fled together.

Vicky White and Casey White crashed their vehicle after they were pursued by Indiana’s federal law enforcement officers. Vicky White was also injured in the crash. Vicky White succumbed to an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound sustained during a fight with law enforcement.