Authorities: Prison employee had sex with inmate, helped him escape

A prison food service worker has been accused of having sex with an inmate and later helping him escape from a facility in Polkton, about 45 miles southeast of Charlotte, according to prison authorities.

Kendra Lynette Miller, 33, was charged with having sex with an inmate, providing a phone to an inmate, harboring a fugitive and aiding and abetting a fugitive, according to the N.C. Department of Public Safety.

She was arrested by Polkton police on Sunday and was being held in Anson County jail. Her bail had been set at $500,000.

Authorities say Miller helped Kristopher McNeil escape from the Brown Creek minimum unit, a 1,200-bed minimum and medium security prison where he was serving a 14-year-sentence for second-degree murder.

McNeil, who was scheduled for release in 2018, was discovered missing just after midnight Saturday. Prison officials say he scaled a fence.

Authorities have not released more information on Miller and McNeil’s alleged relationship. Miller has been a food service worker at the facility since December.

Anyone who has seen McNeil or has knowledge of his whereabouts should contact local law enforcement or Brown Creek Correctional Institution at 704-694-2622.

Authorities believe McNeil may be in Forsyth County because he has family in Winston-Salem. They were focusing their efforts on North Carolina’s Triad region.

This story was originally published June 28, 2015 at 5:36 PM with the headline "Authorities: Prison employee had sex with inmate, helped him escape."