Hunt still on for escaped convict, one in custody, three released

The manhunt for 42-year-old escaped convict Doros Theophanous, serving a life sentence for the murder of his pregnant partner and her three-year-old child, continued on Saturday with a large team of police officers supported by a helicopter, dogs and drones.

The convict with a life sentence who managed to slip away from police is armed, unlikely to give himself in and has a plan to travel to Colombia via the north, police said on Friday.

The convict escaped on Thursday from his parents’ home in Choletria, Paphos where he been allowed to visit under heavy police guard.

Four people have been arrested, three of whom have been released.

The 26-year-old still in custody will be taken before the Paphos district court on Saturday.

The 68-year-old father and 43-year-old Syrian friend of escaped convict Doros Theophanous were released on Saturday.

The Paphos district court deemed testimonies presented against them by the police, which requested they be remanded for eight days, were insufficient.

The fourth, aged 51, who was arrested on Friday, was released as nothing had surfaced against him.

They were suspected of conspiracy to commit a felony and assisting in the escape of a person in lawful custody.

Four prison guards and three police special squad officers, who were accompanying the convict at his parents’ house, have been suspended.

The 42-year-old was taken from the central prison in Nicosia to his parents’ house for a scheduled visit, from where he escaped.

An arrest warrant has been issued.

Theofanous, a hairdresser, was convicted in 2011 for the double murder of his partner Yulia Oporok, who was four months pregnant, and her three-year-old child. He received 24- and 35-year consecutive sentences for the crimes.