Montgomery, Ala. – The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) has issued an urgent request for help in locating a state prison inmate who disappeared from his assigned job site at the Heart of Alabama Food Bank around 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Who is missing
The individual in question is Joseph Win Wampler, a 44‑year‑old inmate serving a 16‑year sentence for second‑degree receiving stolen property. According to ADOC records, Wampler was sentenced on April 28, 2022 for a crime committed in Madison County. He was housed at the Frank Lee Community‑Based Facility in Deatsville before being assigned to the food‑bank work detail.
Physical description
Wampler stands about 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs roughly 142 pounds. He was last seen wearing a standard brown state correctional uniform. He has numerous tattoos, including facial markings that read “2025” and a biblical reference to Proverbs 31:10‑13, as well as images of stars, flames, a lion, a deer, and a female figure with wings and a halo.
How to help
ADOC officials are urging anyone who may have seen Wampler or who has information that could lead to his safe return to contact ADOC Communications immediately at 800‑831‑8825. The department stresses that timely tips are critical to ensuring the inmate’s safe recapture and to maintaining the integrity of the state’s correctional‑work programs.
Why the request matters
Inmate work programs are a cornerstone of Alabama’s correctional strategy, providing job skills, fostering responsibility, and supporting local nonprofits such as the Heart of Alabama Food Bank. When an inmate goes missing, it not only jeopardizes public safety but also disrupts the valuable services these programs deliver to the community.
State officials have repeatedly highlighted the importance of community cooperation in such matters, noting that public vigilance helps protect both citizens and the correctional system’s mission. The ADOC’s outreach reflects a broader commitment to transparency and partnership with Montgomery residents.
Background on the correctional facility
The Frank Lee Community‑Based Facility, located in Deatsville, serves as a transitional center for inmates who are nearing release or who participate in community‑service assignments. By placing inmates in supervised work settings, the department aims to reduce recidivism and strengthen ties between the prison system and local charities.
While the disappearance is a cause for concern, ADOC officials remain confident that with public assistance the inmate will be located quickly and safely. They ask that anyone with relevant information come forward, even if the tip seems minor.
Original reporting: Alabama News Network — read the source article.
