JEANNE MESERVE, CNN ANCHOR: And updating another story we've been covering, the manhunt under way for seven fugitives in Texas. They're accused of the Christmas Eve killing of a police officer and have been on the loose for nearly a month. CNN's Charles Zewe joins us from Garland, Texas. Charles, what's the latest?</s>CHARLES ZEWE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jeanne, the latest is that they're still on the loose, police pursuing dozens if not hundreds of tips that have been phoned into the command center here in Garland, Texas, trying to catch these seven escapees that police describe as extremely dangerous. They've been on the loose since Dec. 13 when they got out of a prison in South Texas. A report in Houston today quotes "Mac" Stringfellow, who's the chairman of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice as saying that a preliminary investigation has disclosed that a prison guard at that jail was fooled by one of the inmates who was dressed up as a civilian worker. The prison guard apparently, according to Stringfellow, did not check the identification of the inmate who approached him. He was then taken over by the inmate, taken captive for a short time, and the rest got out. That was what led to them escaping from the jail. The last time they were seen was Christmas Eve, when they broke into a sporting goods store, robbed the store, stole about $70,000 and allegedly murdered an Irving, Texas police officer, shooting him 11 times, killing him on the scene. There have been reports that they have been seen all over the state of Texas and throughout the Southwest -- in New Mexico, in Colorado, Oklahoma, and in other parts of the nation. But officials both here and Texas and the FBI are saying there are no confirmed reports. They're hoping that $200,000 reward leads to the tip that also leads to their capture. Charles Zewe, CNN, live, Garland, Texas.
Texas Manhunt: Seven Escaped Convicts Believed to Be in Dallas- Fort Worth Area