US murder convict mistakenly released in Chicago

CHICAGO—Police in Indiana and Illinois are hunting for a convicted murderer who was mistakenly released from custody in Chicago.

Authorities said Thursday that they are investigating how and why 44-year-old Steven L. Robbins was released.

Robbins was serving a 60-year sentence for murder and weapons charges in Indiana when he was sent to Chicago on Tuesday to face a drug charge. Indiana officials say the drug charge was dropped and Illinois authorities released Robbins without returning him to Indiana.

Warrants for the Indiana native’s arrest have been issued in both states. Authorities in neither state have said why Robbins was released, but they are asking for the public’s help to catch him.

Authorities say Robbins started serving his sentence in October 2004.