Although there is no evidence he is on Vancouver Island, police are still urging residents to keep their eyes open for a wanted fugitive who is considered armed and extremely dangerous.
William Wade Bicknell escaped from an escorted temporary absence on March 10 while returning from Edmonton to the Drumheller Institution.
Police say Bicknell, who is serving an indeterminate sentence for second degree murder, overpowered his guard after he faked an illness. He handcuffed the guard and locked him in the back of the vehicle while he drove back to Edmonton.
While there, Bicknell retrieved multiple firearms, including a sawed-off shotgun and two bags of ammunition.
Bicknell then drove to a home in a rural area and stole a vehicle, abandoning the guard and the corrections van, and transferring the firearms to the stolen vehicle.
There have been unconfirmed sightings of Bicknell in Alberta and British Columbia. He may be in possession of Correction Services Canada identification.
Anyone who sees Bicknell or knows of his whereabouts is asked to contact the RCMP at 250-248-6111.