Blog Minx

Two days ago, John Frederick Ericson was just your regular convicted axe murderer serving out a life sentence for the brutal killing of his wife seven years ago. He was working in the gardens of the minimum security prison where he’d been transferred because it was felt he could be trusted.

It turned out he couldn’t be trusted. Ericson bolted and by the time the alarm was raised he’d vanished.

Did I mention the prison is 800 metres up the road from my house, and that I drive past it twice a day to and from work?

Of course, a convicted axe murderer wandering around the suburbs isn’t really optimal, so a manhunt began with choppers, armed squads and sniffer dogs – to no avail. He’s still out there, more than 24 hours after escaping. It’s like one of those horror stories you tell as a child with torch-lit face at a sleepover.

And why am I writing about this, as I glance repeatedly over my shoulder? Well, when the media broke the story yesterday a news alert popped up on my desk at work with all the details and, shortly after, the guy’s impassive mugshot. I then emailed the link with the subject line: “Lock the doors!”  to Mr Minx, who works from home, and my dad, who lives not far down the road. People in the city were texting and emailing and soon everyone knew that an Axe Killer Was AWOL.

If you’ve seen the futuristic film Minority Report you’ll remember that when Tom Cruise is accused of a pre-crime murder he makes a run for it, but it isn’t easy with multimedia blaring his character’s name and image from animated billboards everywhere he turns. We may not be quite there yet, but it is getting easier to a) communicate quickly and b) access important information.

Having said that, he’s still out there and by now may well have left town. As long as he doesn’t leap out with an axe as I’m driving down an empty road at night with my gas levels near empty. Technology will be no use then.