LANSING — The Michigan State Police (MSP) and Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) are working with the U.S. Marshals Service to apprehend Michael David Elliot, who escaped from the MDOC Ionia Correctional Facility during the evening hours of Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014.

Elliot was serving four life sentences for murder.

Elliot is described as a white male, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall and 165 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes and is approximately 40 years old.

Elliot was last seen at approximately midnight in the area of the 80/90 Turnpike driving a red 2004 Jeep with a Michigan license plate reading 5FTG55. He was wearing black fatigue pants, white tennis shoes and a white beanie cap (see security camera image).

After escaping from the MDOC Ionia Correctional Facility, Elliot carjacked a local woman and drove south. The woman was able to escape and notify law enforcement while the two were stopped at a gas station just south of the Michigan/Indiana state line.

At approximately 1 p.m. today, the Jeep was located abandoned in a parking lot in Shipshewana, Ind.

Elliot should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone who comes in contact with him should notify law enforcement immediately. Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the MSP at 616-527-5616.