LUCASVILLE — Chris L. Harris of Sidney, in prison for life in the 2007 murder of Victoria Eilerman of Fort Loramie, is accused of plotting an escape attempt from the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility at Lucasville.

Prison officials said Thursday, July 24, the plot allegedly involving Harris and a former fellow inmate was discovered, and foiled, with the help of other agencies.

Harris, 33,was sentenced to life in prison last year for kidnapping Victoria Eilerman, 84, from her rural home on April 5, 2007, raping and killing her.

He was sentenced to another 10 years in a Miami County court for 2006 assaults and robberies of four Miami County residents — three of them elderly.

For the escape plot, Harris allegedly was conspiring with Derrick Hancock, 53, a parolee who had served time with Harris in a Toledo prison in 2004 and was living in Cleveland. Hancock was arrested on July 15, the day of the planned escape and is awaiting a parole hearing, Warden Phillip Kerns said today.

Kerns said Hancock had a gun and maps. "He had the tools necessary to affect the escape," he said.

An investigation began when an Adult Parole Authority officer in Cleveland received word of a possible escape attempt. The FBI, the Ohio State Patrol and the Pike County Sheriff's Office, where the prison is located, all assisted in the investigation, Kerns said.

The alleged plan was for Harris to injure himself and require transportation to the local hospital. As prison officers and Harris left the hospital, the plan was to abduct the officer and free Harris, Kerns said.

The investigation into possible other participants in the plot continues. Kerns said the two had been writing letters back and forth about the escape plan.

Harris was taken to the hospital on July 12 in what officials think was a "test run," Kerns said. Already investigating the possible escape attempt, prison officials lined up additional security from the state patrol and sheriff's department.

Doug Schlagetter was the road patrol supervisor for the Shelby County Sheriff's Department the day Eilerman was reported missing and was in court the day a crying Harris was sentenced.

Now sheriff, he said he first learned of the escape attempt from reporters early Thursday.

"He claimed to show a lot of remorse. I think this shows his true demeanor, and the fact he's in the place he should be," Schlagetter said.

Kerns said Harris is in segregation. A hearing will be held to determine if he violated prison rules and if he will be sent to a more secure facility, possibly the Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown.

Prison officials had not had any problems with Harris since his arrival at Lucasville more than a year ago, Kerns said. Hancock, who had served time for aggravated murder, was released on parole in July 2007.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2292 or nbowman@DaytonDailyNews.com.