Rogelio V. Solis / AP Photo
Mississippi's attorney general said Thursday that the state may order a nationwide manhunt to find the four convicted murderers pardoned by outgoing governor Haley Barbour on Tuesday. "We'll catch 'em," said Attorney General Jim Hood. "It's just a matter of time." The four were freed in one of Barbour's last acts as governor—pardoning more than 200 convicted criminals. Late Wednesday night, a Mississippi judge halted the 21 pardons issued after Hood, a Democrat, filed to halt some of the reprieves based on a provision in the state Constitution that insists pardons must be published at least 30 days in advance. But four convicted murders and a convicted armed robber had already been released, and Hood said the state cannot issue arrest warrants and the pardoned prisoners are required to contact prison officials only on a daily basis, but their whereabouts are unknown.