Escaped convict armed and allegedly heading to Columbia

Authorities in Cyprus are in an intense manhunt for 42-year-old Isovite Doros Theofanous, known as “the hairdresser,” who staged a daring escape from his parents’ home in Choletria, Paphos on Thursday, September 26. Theofanous, who was serving a life sentence, slipped out of a window while on temporary leave from Central Prison. Since then, police, aided by drones, trained dogs, and helicopters, have been searching for the armed fugitive, who had reportedly planned a bold getaway to Latin America.

Theofanous, with the help of his father and an accomplice, allegedly orchestrated his escape with military precision. His plan? To flee Cyprus through the occupied territories, travel to Istanbul, and eventually reach Colombia. Investigators revealed that his father, a 68-year-old man now in custody, had sold real estate to fund his son’s escape. Another suspect, a 43-year-old man, has also been arrested in connection with the plot. Both are facing charges of conspiracy and assisting in the escape of a prisoner.

The escape, which unfolded in a matter of minutes, occurred while Theofanous was visiting his father’s home under the supervision of four prison guards and three members of the Mobile Immediate Action Unit (MMAD). The convict, trusted by his escorts after multiple such visits, asked to briefly leave the room—an innocent request that led to his sudden disappearance. Shockingly, he wasn’t wearing handcuffs at the time, a breach of standard protocol.

The plot thickened when it emerged that Theofanous had been planning his flight for some time. Armed with a pistol, he had allegedly strategized every step of his escape, relying on his familiarity with the prison’s leave procedures. His father, suspected of being deeply involved in the scheme, had been gathering funds for his son’s getaway for months.

Police forces have focused their search efforts on the Platres area, where a vehicle believed to be connected to Theofanous was recently spotted. As the dragnet tightens, the photograph of the fugitive—captured by family moments before his escape—has proven valuable to the investigation.

Meanwhile, the four prison guards and three MMAD officers involved in the ill-fated visit have been suspended pending further inquiry. Investigators are scrutinizing the circumstances of the escape, questioning how Theofanous, a life-sentenced convict, managed to slip away so easily under heavy supervision.

For now, Cyprus remains on high alert as authorities chase down every lead. The manhunt continues, with officials warning that Theofanous is armed and dangerous. His ambitious plan to reach Colombia, if successful, could have left a trail of international intrigue, but for now, the fugitive remains on the run, leaving a stunned nation in suspense.Fugitive Doros Theofanous

[With information from 24 News]