Murderer pleads guilty to escaping Michigan prison

IONIA, Mich. (AP) - A convicted murderer has pleaded guilty to escaping from a western Michigan prison in February. Michael Elliot pleaded guilty last Thursday to escape and no contest to kidnapping and carjacking charges. He was scheduled to represent himself at trial in October. A sentencing date hasn't been set. The 41-year-old was captured in LaPorte County, Indiana, one day after escaping from the Ionia Correctional Facility. Officials say after the escape, Elliot stole a Jeep in Ionia with a woman inside. She got free uninjured and called 911 when they stopped for gas more than 100 miles away. Police then chased and captured Elliot. He's serving life in prison for first-degree murder in the 1993 shooting of four people. A co-defendant admits pulling the trigger, and Elliot says he's innocent. Published: Mon, Sep 22, 2014