Jail inmate disappears after brother's funeral

NEW CASTLE, Pa. (AP) - Police say a  man awaiting trial on drug charges in Lawrence County has not returned to the county jail where he was being held when a judge gave him a furlough to attend the funeral of his brother, who died when police say he shot himself to end a chase earlier this month.


New Castle police say Tuesday they're still searching for 20-year-old Durand Lawson, who was furloughed from the Lawrence County Jail Saturday for the funeral of his brother, 19-year-old Lagene Lawson.


Police in Cranberry Township, Butler County, say Lagene Lawson shot himself while they were chasing him after he refused to pull over for speeding on Route 228 about 3:15 a.m. Aug. 4.


A coroner ruled the death a suicide, but Lagene Lawson's family has expressed doubts that he could have killed himself.