UPDATE 1:22 A.M. Tuesday, June 9, 2026
From Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame:
Vance County Detention Center escapees Michael Miles and Lishawn Knott were captured without incident at approximately 12:20 am, June 9, 2026, at a home on Old Farm School Road in Asheville, North Carolina.
Leads generated by the investigative team during the joint Vance County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, SBI, and Henderson PD investigation led to their capture, in Buncombe County, NC.
The investigation into their escape on June 3, 2026 and their movements afterwards are still under investigation.
First court appearance information is not yet available.
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UPDATE 1:00 A.M. Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Shortly after 12:15 a.m. both escaped detainees were taken into custody in Buncombe County, NC, according to Sheriff Brame.
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******From Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame:
******UPDATE 6:21 P.M. Saturday, June 6, 2026
FBI Expands Assistance in Manhunt for Vance County Detention Center Escapees
The FBI, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, the SBI, the Henderson Police Department, and the Granville County Sheriff’s Office are working as one investigative team to find and arrest two fugitives who escaped from the Vance County Detention Center.
Michael Miles and Lishawn Knott are considered armed and dangerous. Miles and Knott were being held in the Vance County Detention Center for multiple state drug trafficking and gun related charges when they escaped on June 3, 2026, at approximately 2:00 p.m.
“The full force of these investigative teams is making significant progress to find them. If you know where they are and don’t report their location to law enforcement, you’re at risk of facing local, state, or federal charges yourself. Now is the time to turn them in,” said Vance County Sheriff Curtis R. Brame.
The FBI is offering a reward up to $15,000 for each fugitive and the Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers is offering up to $5,000 each, for a combined $20,000 for each subject, totaling $40,000. The FBI is accepting tips at the FBI National Threat Operations Center at 1-800-CALL FBI or online at tips.fbi.gov. Digital billboards are live across North Carolina to publicize the reward.
Miles is 33 years old, 6’0”, approximately 180 lbs., with black and brown eyes and a prominent neck tattoo.
Knott is 21 years old, 5′ 11″, approximately 160 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes with numerous face tattoos including a large cross on his forehead.
The investigative teams are developing and following leads, collecting and exploiting surveillance videos, interviewing witnesses, associates, family members of the escapees, and conducting sophisticated court authorized investigative techniques to capture them.
If you see Miles and Knott, do not approach them, call 911, if you have tips to their location(s) call, 911, 1-800- CALL FBI (225-5324) or Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925. You can also submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
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*****From Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame:
*****UPDATE 4:50 P.M. Friday, June 5, 2026
The Vance County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, the SBI, the Henderson Police Department, the Granville County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement partners are working together as one investigative team to find and arrest two escaped inmates.
A video posted on the Vance County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page and shared to other law enforcement social media accounts includes a message from Sheriff Curtis R. Brame.
“I know you want to hear details about the manhunt, but we can’t talk about what we are doing. We don’t want Miles and Knott to hear what we know about their movements. They planned their escape in advance. They were picked up nearby, and they are being helped while they are on the run,” said Vance County Sheriff Curtis R. Brame. “We are making significant progress to find them and to identify anyone and everyone involved in their escape. To anyone who knows where they are now, who assisted or supported them, now is the time to turn them in before anyone is hurt. I want everyone in my community to be safe, every law enforcement officer to be safe, and I want these escapees to be captured safely.”
Michael Lewis Miles Jr. and Lishawn Knott are considered armed and dangerous. Miles and Knott were in the Vance County Detention Center being held for multiple state drug trafficking and gun related charges when they escaped on June 3, 2026, at approximately 2:00 p.m.
Miles is 33 years old, 6’0”, approximately 180 lbs., with black and brown eyes and a prominent neck tattoo.
Knott is 21 years old, 5′ 11″, approximately 160 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes with numerous face tattoos including a large cross on his forehead.
If you see Miles and Knott, do not approach them, call 911 or the Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925. There is a combined reward up to $40,000.
We appreciate assistance from the North Carolina Outdoor Advertising Association for donating available digital billboard space.
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****From Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame:
****UPDATE 4:26 P.M. Thursday, June 4, 2026
New digital billboards are going up across North Carolina to expand the ongoing search for two escaped inmates to advertise a combined reward of up to $40,000 for information leading to their arrests. Michael Lewis Miles Jr. and Lishawn Knott are both considered armed and dangerous. Miles and Knott were in the Vance County Detention Center being held for multiple state drug trafficking and gun related charges when they escaped on June 3, 2026, at approximately 2:00 p.m.
The Vance County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, the SBI, the Henderson Police Department and other law enforcement partners are developing and following leads, collecting and exploiting surveillance video, interviewing witnesses, associates, family members of the escapees, and conducting sophisticated court authorized investigative techniques to capture them.
Miles is 33 years old, 6’0”, approximately 180 lbs., with black and brown eyes and a prominent neck tattoo.
Knott is 21 years old, 5′ 11″, approximately 160 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes with numerous face tattoos including a large cross on his forehead.
We ask home and business owners to lock your vehicles, close your garage doors, and lock up your sheds.
If you see Miles and Knott, do not approach them, call 911 or the Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925.
We appreciate assistance from the North Carolina Outdoor Advertising Association for donating available digital billboard space.
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***From Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame:
***UPDATE 10:06 P.M. Wednesday, June 3, 2026
The Vance County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, the SBI, the Henderson Police Department and other law enforcement partners are working to locate two men who escaped from the Vance County Detention Center on June 3, 2026, at approximately 2:00 p.m. The FBI and the Vance County Crime Stoppers are offering a combined reward up to $40,000 to locate and capture the escapees. Up to $20,000 for each individual. They may be traveling together or separately.
Michael Lewis Miles Jr. and Lishawn Knott are both considered armed and dangerous. Miles and Knott were in the Vance County Detention Center held for multiple state drug trafficking and gun related charges. They were familiar with one another prior to being arrested.
Miles is 33 years old, 6’0”, approximately 180 lbs., with black and brown eyes and a prominent neck tattoo.
Knott is 21years old, 5′ 11″, approximately 160 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes with numerous face tattoos including a large cross on his forehead.
We are asking the public to check home surveillance video or trail/hunting camera images to assist in real-time tracking of the escapees. We also ask everyone to lock your vehicles, close your garage doors, and lock up your sheds.
If you see Miles and Knott, do not approach them, call 911 or the Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at (252) 492-1925.
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From Henderson Police Department, SBI and FBI
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**UPDATE 4 P.M. Wednesday, June 3, 2026
The Vance County Sheriff’s Office is actively searching for two males who escaped from custody at the Vance County Detention Center.
On June 3, 2026, at approximately 2:00 p.m., Michael Miles AKA Mike Mike (Black male, 33 years old) and Lishawn Knott (Black male, 21 years old) escaped from the Vance County Detention Center. Both individuals are considered armed and dangerous.
The Vance County Sheriff’s Office, along with assisting law enforcement agencies, is actively conducting search efforts to locate and apprehend both individuals. Citizens are urged not to approach either subject if seen.
Anyone who sees either of these individuals or has information regarding their whereabouts is asked to immediately contact 911 or the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office at (252) 738-2200 or Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at (252) 492-1925. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through the P3 Tips mobile application.
Sheriff Curtis Brame stated, “The safety of our community is our highest priority. We are utilizing all available resources to locate these individuals as quickly as possible. We ask the public to remain vigilant and immediately report any sightings or information that may assist law enforcement in bringing this incident to a safe resolution.”
Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
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*Urgent* 3:12 p.m. Wed, Jun 3, 2026
Two detainees have escaped from The Vance County Jail, as of about 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, and are to be considered armed and dangerous. Do not approach. Contact law enforcement immediately. (HPD Photos)
