CHICAGO — A convicted murderer was mistakenly released Wednesday after appearing in court in Cook County, according to the Cook County Sheriff's Office.
Steven Robbins, 44, was serving a sentence in the Indiana Department of Corrections for murder.
Robbins appeared in Cook County court in Markham Wednesday, a sheriff's spokesperson said. He faced a warrant stemming from a 2007 charge for armed violence, and the charge was dismissed, the spokesperson said. No details about the charge were available.
After his court appearance, Robbins was transported to Cook County Jail, where he was later released Wednesday night, the spokesperson said.
Robbins was serving a 60-year sentence in Indiana for murder. The spokesperson stopped short of saying Robbins is dangerous, but said, "We have warned the public not to approach him."
"Everybody" is involved with the search, the spokesperson said, including the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service. The sheriff's office has also sent a bulletin to other Chicago-area law enforcement departments.
Robbins is described as a black male who stands 5-foot-5 and weighs 190 pounds. He has a tattoo on the right side of his neck that says "Nicole."
Police ask anyone with information to call 708-865-4915.