Victim’s family in Quad Cities fears for safety as search for escaped murderer continues

MILAN, Ill. (KWQC) - The search for a convicted murderer who escaped from a Chicago prison program last week continues as the victim’s family says they fear for their safety.

Johnell Smith III escaped less than six months after he was sentenced in the shooting death of 17-year-old Danny Taylor in Milan.

State leaders say Smith was in a special program in Chicago when he escaped last week .

Taylor’s family says local authorities are developing leads, but they remain worried about their safety with a convicted killer on the loose.

Family lives in fear

“There’s a real threat out there, and we want Johnell caught because we want justice to be served as much as it can under these circumstances, but we also don’t want any other family to endure the pain that our family has had to endur