Inmate located after escape from cleaning crew

COLFAX - An escaped Idaho inmate waived his rights to extradition during Whitman County Superior Court Friday, Aug. 16, and was taken back into Idaho Department of Corrections Custody.

Wayland Savage, 34, was booked into Whitman County Jail on Tuesday, Aug. 13, for charges of first-degree escape.

According to reports, Aug. 13, Savage walked off the University of Idaho campus from Theophilus Tower around 4:40 p.m., while working on prison-staffed cleaning crew.

Moscow Police, Pullman Police and Whitman County Regional SWAT searched the University of Idaho campus and Theophilus Tower through the evening after issuing warnings to local residents and students to avoid the area.

Washington State University also issued an alert for students and campus faculty members.

Savage was located at approximately 8 p.m. by law enforcement officials in Pullman and was promptly taken into custody.

During the Aug. 16 Whitman County Superior Court hearing, Savage verbally agreed to waive his extradition rights over Zoom, after consultation with his public defender Steve Martonick, and voluntarily return to the State of Idaho.

Whitman County Superior Court Judge Gary Libey read Savage his rights and signed the waiver with Idaho Department of Corrections returning Savage to the State of Idaho.

According to public records, Savage is currently held through Idaho Department of Corrections on charges of Burglary and Grand Theft, with a parole eligibility date of March 12, 2026, as of Tuesday, Aug. 20.