A convicted murderer with ties to Langley has escaped a minimum security prison and is now accused of trying to rob banks in Surrey and Langley.
Shawn Merrick, 43, went missing from the Mission prison on March 31.
Following his escape, police say he tried to rob a pair of banks in Surrey on April 17. He also is looking to be a suspect in Langley bank robberies.
A Canada-wide arrest warrant has been issued. In a rare move, the Canadian Bankers Association has also offered a $10,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of Merrick.
Merrick was serving time for the “brutal” killing of Shelley Lynn DeVoe in the fall of 2006.
The body of DeVoe, a 44-year-old Whalley mother of two, was found on Burke Mountain in Coquitlam that year. Merrick had more than 50 convictions prior to being sentenced to five years for robbing more than a dozen banks, including four in Langley, between 2006 and 2007.
Police say Merrick poses a serious threat to people’s safety. Do not approach him; call 911 if you see him.
Merrick is 5’8” tall, with brown hair and blue eyes. He has a tattoo of a skull on the left side of his chest and a dragon on his right upper arm. He also has a burn scar on his right forearm.
Anyone with information who wants to remain anonymous can call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.