2 arrested in connection with Anson County prison break

POLKTON, N.C. — Two women -- one a cousin, another a friend of convicted killer Kristopher McNeil -- are accused of helping him elude police.

Shyla Ryder, 30, and Mazandra Spigner, 44, were charged with harboring McNeil, state investigators said.

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Spigner is McNeil's cousin and agents wouldn't say specifically what they believe the two women did, but that it could include providing food, clothing, a cellphone or transportation to him while he was on the run.

SBI agents said because McNeil was originally from Winston-Salem they began knocking on doors talking to family and friends and that led to the arrests of Spigner and Ryder.

Mcneil, a convicted murderer serving a 14-year-sentence, escaped from the minimum security section of the Brown Creek Correctional Facility in Polkton on June 27.

He was on the run for 48 hours before he was seen walking on a roadside at the Davidson-Forsyth county line where he was arrested.

Prison employee Kendra Miller was charged for allegedly being involved in the escape, investigators said.

Miller was having sex with McNeil, waited for him in a car outside the prison, drove him away and gave him a cellphone, according to officials.

Geneva Wiliams who lives near the prison said it's all still unbelievable.

"I think they should have more security around there, to make sure they don't escape," Williams said.

She has lived within a mile of the Brown Creek prison for 40 years and only remembers one other escape.

Nancy Jones lives directly across the street from the prison and can see nearly the whole campus from her front porch.

She's never been afraid of being so close to the prison.

"I always thought if someone got out they wouldn't hang around here," Jones said.

She doesn't think much of anyone who tried to help a convicted killer get away.

"I think it's stupidity on everybody's part. I certainly would not help somebody,' she said.

State Bureau of Investigation agents said Thursday they are also looking into a tip that McNeil had escaped from the prison before, possibly several times to meet up with Miller outside the prison. They have not confirmed that tip as accurate however.

Police said more arrests are possible and the case is still under investigation.