Authorities continue their search for Bruce Franklin Burns, who escaped from the Sexual Predator Unit at Larned Hospital Wednesday. Considered potentially dangerous, he is described as a 5-foot-10 male of American Indian descent, with brown eyes, long brown hair and facial hair. He was last seen wearing a navy blue jacket, khaki pants, black shoes and a navy-blue ski cap. Anyone with information on the case call 800-KSCRIME (800-572-7463) or the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office at 620-285-2211.
LARNED — Local and state authorities Thursday continued their hunt for a man convicted of child sex crimes who remained on the lam after escaping from the Larned State Hospital Wednesday.
Convicted in Wyandotte County, 41-one-year-old Bruce Franklin Burns escaped during a Wednesday afternoon sexual predator treatment program, said Steve Mock, communications director for Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services. The SRS is the agency that oversees the state hospital.
"He exited from the fenced-in area on the southwest side of where he was housed," Mock said. He was discovered missed during a staff-ordered patient headcount.
An internal investigation is underway, Mock said. "We’re still trying to determine how that happened."
Pawnee County authorities are leading the criminal probe, Mock said. "They are coordinating with statewide law enforcement. The Kansas Highway Patrol has been involved."
Although he left LSH at about 4:45 p.m. from the southwest, "there is no clear indication of where he is headed or where he might be trying to get to," Mock said.
Burns, birthdate Dec. 5, 1969, is described as a 5-foot-10 male of American Indian descent, with brown eyes, long brown hair and facial hair. He was last seen wearing a navy blue jacket, khaki pants, black shoes and a navy-blue ski cap. He is considered potentially dangerous.
According to the Kansas Department of Corrections, Burns was convicted in August 1998 in Wyandotte County on one count each of attempted aggravated criminal sodomy with a child less than 14 and attempted aggravated indecent liberties/child less than 14 - fondling. He has been incarcerated at Lancing Correctional Facility, Eldorado Correctional Facility and in Wyandotte County before being coming to LSH for in February 2009.
Burns finished serving his sentence in August of 2008, but remains on parole, said Bill Miskell, Kansas Department of Corrections public information officer. After his release from prison, he was held in Wyandotte County until he was civilly committed to the Sexual Predator Unit at LSH.
He would have remained at Larned, even after his term of parole had ended, Miskell said.
Now, however, in addition to warrants issued for Burns’ arrest in Pawnee County, KDOC issued Thursday morning a probation violation warrant out of Topeka.
While in custody, Burns had a history of disciplinary problems, including dangerous contraband, disruptive behavior, falsifying documents, lying, unauthorized dealing or trade and use of stimulants.
