TUCKER, Ark. (AP) - Authorities are searching for a convicted killer who escaped from an Arkansas prison where he was serving a 40-year sentence for first-degree murder.

Arkansas Department of Correction spokeswoman Shea Wilson says 33-year-old Curtis Reese Jr. escaped the Tucker Unit Monday afternoon.

Wilson says Reese and inmate James B. Ryan escaped at the same time - but Wilson says Ryan is back in custody.

Wilson says the pair left the prison in a water tank atop an 18-wheel tractor-trailer and jumped off in the Ferda area between England and Tucker and authorities are focusing their search in that area.

Wilson says Reese is serving a 40-year sentence for first-degree murder out of Saline County.

Prison records show Reese is white with green eyes, about 5-feet-10-inches tall and weighs about 176 pounds.

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