Convicted Murderer Who Escaped Faces Judge after Capture

The hearing in the Jefferson County Circuit Judge Jodi Raines Dennis did not take long. Buffington was escorted in-and-out by several guards while strapped to chains and wearing a white jumpsuit.

The Prosecuting Attorney on the case, Kyle Hunter, says the details of how Buffington spent those three months will be limited.

“Of course there’s a lot of public interest in this case because of the time it took to find him after he was gone,” he said. “I know there’s a lot of interest and people want to know exactly what happened from the time he got out till he was caught.”

Buffington faces felony kidnapping, escape, theft of a firearm and aggravated assault which were all related to his escape June 21. 

What we do know are the circumstances of the moments right after the escape as authorities began their search, particularly what Buffington faces charges for.

Authorities say he stole a shotgun and kidnapped a woman “placing duck tape and wire around her hands and feet.”

They added that Buffington approached another man’s home, “pointed the shotgun at him and told him to open the door.”

A plea of not-guilty was automatically entered on Buffington’s behalf as he did not have an attorney at his side in court.

Buffington, however, did tell the Judge he didn’t want [the case] to draw out. He said he “would like to move this on as quick as possible” and that he “has been accused of some things he didn’t do.”

He remains in the Varner Supermax Prison under a close eye with a trial date set for February 7.