Manhunt underway after 2 'dangerous' prisoners escape from Missouri jail

A statewide manhunt is underway in Missouri after two prisoners, accused of violent crimes, escaped from jail just before 2 a.m. on Sunday, according to local authorities.

The two escaped from the Pemiscot County Jail through an air duct, arrived at a room to leave and then set off an alarm before jumping over a fence behind the building, Caruthersville, Missouri, Police Chief Tony Jones told ABC News. Surveillance footage in which they were last seen shows the pair heading towards the Mississippi River.

Police are calling the two "dangerous."

One of the escapees, William Carter, 27, is facing first degree murder charges. Investigators allege that he purposely ran down his estranged wife and a man with his car, killing both of them.

The other, Joseph Latamondeer, 41, was being held on several felony charges including an alleged kidnapping related to a violent domestic assault case.

Both were due to appear in court on Monday.

Captain Michael Coleman of the Pemiscot County Sheriff's Office told ABC News that authorities believe the two are still in the area. While the two are still at large, a search team, with dogs in tow, is currently out looking for them.

ABC News' Ben Stein contributed to this report