Demarcus Woodard/Germayel Culbert/Justin Gordon (CAPTURED)

From left: Demarcus Woodard (AT LARGE), Germayel Culbert (CAPTURED) and Justin Terrell Gordon (CAPTURED) escaped from a Choctaw County jail early Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014. (Credit to AL.COM)

BUTLER, Alabama -- Law enforcement officials are searching for three men who escaped from a Choctaw County jail early Saturday, according to a report by the Choctaw Sun-Advocate.

After searching the immediate area around Butler, a city of about 2,000 residents in southwest Alabama, authorities have expanded the search for the three men -- Demarcus Woodard, 23; Germayel Culbert, 32; and Justin Terrell Gordon, 23, -- to other areas.

Both Woodard and Culbert were jailed for murder charges, and Gordon is charged for an armed robbery.

In a brief phone interview, Choctaw County Sheriff Tom Abate said the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service are assisting in the search.

"I've got three bad inmates, two capital murders and one armed robber, who are on foot. They took off from the jail," Abate said, adding he didn't have time to discuss the matter further.

According to a report from CNN this morning, authorities are looking for capital murder defendants Demarcus Woodward, 23, who is accused of killing a work release inmate, and Culbert, who allegedly participated in the killing of two people in a separate incident.

And Gordon was involved with the alleged armed robbery of a convenience store, according to the report

The inmates in the cell attacked the guard by choking him and stole his keys and cell phone before running away, Abate told CNN.

Tracking dogs led law enforcement about a quarter-mile along State Highway 17 in Butler, according to the report. Abate said he believes they got into a vehicle at that point.

The jail guard was treated and released at a local hospital, the sheriff told CNN.

Police urge anyone with information to call the Choctaw County Sheriff's Department at (205) 459-2166.

www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2014/12/3_inmates_escape_alabama_jail.html