Manhunt for Ramone Alston | Officers outside Orange County home as search for Alston continues

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) – A tip to the ABC 11 I-Team led our cameras to a country road in Orange County, 15 minutes outside of downtown Chapel Hill.

Although officials said the ground search was over, we saw officials outside a home where we believe a family member of Ramone Alston lives.

Parked on the side of the two-lane road were several Department of Corrections SUVs and a white prison transport truck – presumably the same vehicle from which Alston escaped on Tuesday.

“When you deal with these escapees, they generally think one step ahead, not two,” said Robin Dreeke, who worked for the FBI for more than 20 years and specializes in getting into the minds of criminals. “He knew exactly what he was doing and where he would be safe to start.”

Dreeke believes Alston didn’t get very far.

“The person is here on site and I would – and the sheriff has indicated this – contact the family,” Dreeke said. “Some have cooperated. I would focus on the family that is not cooperating. When you step back and look at everyone involved, you look for someone who has shown a deviation from their normal pattern of behavior.”

SEE ALSO: Search teams are confident of finding escaped North Carolina child murderer Ramone Alston | Search Day 3

The Department of Corrections told Eyewitness News that its efforts are currently focused on getting Alston back into custody.

They also said they have a contract with UNC Health to provide care and that some of that care is provided at Hillsborough. They also noted that Alston was there for a follow-up appointment.

“We have special clinics in the Central Prison Hospital and many offenders from other prisons are treated there, but some procedures have to be carried out in external hospitals,” said a prison service spokesman.

Dreeke is convinced that Alston will be caught.

“The fact that the sheriff has known him since birth is impressive,” he said. “The fact that the sheriff has those details makes me confident he’s going to get him.”