By NC WANTED Staff

Posted: Sep 4, 2008
Updated: Sep 10, 2008

NEW HANOVER COUNTY — Manuel Hrnieth

Serving Time for:

Second-degree Murder
Assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury
Armed robbery

Ethnicity: Hispanic
Sex: Male
DOB: 6/29/1963
Height: 5’4”
Weight: 130 lbs.
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Aliases: Arrieta Victor Manuel

Other: Tattoo on left arm

Date of Escape: May 3, 1995

County of Escape: New Hanover

On April 6, 1991, Manuel Hrnieth, Oscar Camecho and a few others were hanging out, drinking beer and listening to music. An argument ensued between Hrneith and Camecho and the two started pushing each other back and forth. Omar Rodriguez attempted to break up the fight. During the brawl, Camecho pushed Hrnieth to the ground. That’s when Hrneith pulled out a small caliber pistol from his pocket and shot and killed Camecho. Hrnieth also shot Rodriguez in the back. After the shootings, he demanded Rodriguez’s van keys, got in his vehicle and drove off.

Hrnieth was arrested in Tarboro for a DWI. He was held at the Pitt County Jail where he confessed to shooting and killing Oscar Camecho.

Four months later, Hrnieth pled guilty to murder, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and armed robbery. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

He only served four years of that sentence before escaping from a correctional facility in New Hanover Correctional Center in Wilmington in May 1995.

If you have information on the whereabouts of Manuel Hrnieth, call NC WANTED toll free at 1.866.43.WANTED or click on "Report a Tip" Your identity can be kept confidential.