Roy Williams Burgess Jr., a 42-year-old inmate from Gastonia, escaped from the minimum-security Lincoln Correctional Center in Lincolnton, North Carolina, on Sunday afternoon, December 7, 2025, and remains at large. He was serving a one- to two-year sentence for larceny with nearly 20 years of prior low-level felonies; authorities believe he may be in Gaston County areas like Dallas or Gastonia seeking aid from contacts. Burgess, last seen in a white thermal shirt and dark green prison pants, possibly has cuts and is bleeding; he measures 5’11”, 180 pounds, with brown hair, blue eyes, a beard, “BNG” neck tattoo, and others on hands/arms.​​
Search Efforts
K-9 teams are actively tracking near Hoyles Creek Road and Rhyne Road, with North Carolina Department of Adult Correction and local law enforcement involved. No recapture reported as of December 8, 2025; residents should not approach and must call 911 or 704-735-0485 with tips.​
Public Safety Notes
Lincoln Correctional Center escapes are rare, but this incident highlights vulnerabilities in minimum-security facilities amid ongoing regional manhunts. Check NCDAC alerts or local news for updates on Burgess’s status.
