Convicted murderer’s sister arrested, charged with helping him escape in Orange County

On Thursday, the older sister of a convicted murderer who escaped custody in Orange County will appear in court.

According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, deputies arrested 43-year-old Monique Brady on Wednesday and charged her with aiding and abetting a fugitive and harboring an escapee.

The sheriff’s office said Brady is the sister of Ramone Alston, who escaped custody on Aug. 13 while being transported to UNC Hospital’s Hillsborough campus.

Authorities caught Alston on Aug. 16 in the Kannapolis area after more than three days on the run. They later charged another woman, Jacobia Crisp, with helping him escape and hide from authorities.

Investigators haven’t revealed how they believe Brady was involved. A judge placed Brady in the Orange County Detention Center under a $30,000 secured bond.

Her first court appearance is at 2 p.m. Thursday.

Alston was convicted in 2018 of shooting and killing 1-year-old Maleah Williams on Christmas Day in 2015. Maleah was shot while playing outside her family’s apartment in Chapel Hill and died three days later after she was taken off life support.

After his capture, Alston was taken to Granville Correctional Center, which North Carolina Department of Adult Correction Secretary Todd Ishee called the most secure in the state’s prison system. Alston will be charged with felony escape from prison. He will resume serving his life sentence and, if convicted on the escape charges, that sentence would be added on.

Hundreds of people and dozens of law enforcement agencies had been involved in the search for Alston. Authorities searched 1,335 acres in the first two days and had conducted door-to-door searches and looked through neighborhoods, woods and creeks.

According to Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood, the investigation is ongoing and more charges are possible.

“We owe it to our community and Maleah’s family to hold everyone who assisted Alston accountable for the danger and fear their actions caused,” he said.

Authorities are still working to see if anyone else was involved in Alston’s escape. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office asked anyone with information to call 919-324-1082.