A Lawrence County Jail escapee who has eluded law enforcementofficers for a year was recaptured Tuesday in Hattiesburg.

Lawrence County Sheriff Joel Thames said Kenneth Roscoe Eley,36, of Robinwood Road, and his girlfriend Melanie Peyton, 22, ofRobinwood Road, were apprehended by officers of the Forrest CountySheriff’s Department and Hattiesburg Police Department following aCrimeStoppers tip received by the Lawrence County Sheriff’sDepartment.

Eley and Peyton were nabbed at an apartment complex, where theywere staying with their 3-year-old child, Thames said. The childhas been placed into Department of Human Services custody.

The CrimeStoppers tip that led to Eley’s capture Tuesday was oneof several investigators have received while attempting torecapture him, he said.

“We were finally able to catch up with him in Hattiesburg lastnight,” the sheriff said. “We’ve been close a couple of times inthe past few months. We just missed him in Jackson last month.”

Eley is facing an escape charge, possibly with other chargespending, Thames said. Peyton is being held for questioning and mayface charges of aiding and abetting a convicted felon.

“We feel like she was initially involved in this when heescaped,” Thames said.

Eley and Peyton were transferred to the Lawrence County Jailearly this morning. An initial hearing has not been set, Thamessaid, but would likely occur this afternoon or Thursdaymorning.

“We will request no bond on him for sure,” Thames said. “I’mconfident the judge will agree to that.”

Eley escaped while participating in the inmate work crew programin July 2004, the sheriff said. He was serving time after beingconvicted of possession of crack cocaine and possession ofmarijuana.