# Prison escape and manhunt in Baia Mare

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/prison-escape-and-manhunt-in-baia-mare
> Updated: 2026-08-20T09:31:50.000Z. Sources: 24. Developments: 2.

Authorities in Romania have launched a large-scale manhunt for a 28-year-old inmate, Dorel Dorin Moldovan, who escaped from a construction site in Baia Mare while serving a sentence for aggravated theft.

Initial reports indicated that police were utilizing thermal imaging drones to scan forests near the Ferneziu neighborhood. As the search intensified, the operation expanded to include over 400 personnel, including police, gendarmes, and prison staff. Law enforcement established checkpoints at city exits and extended searches toward the border to prevent the fugitive from leaving the country.

The situation gained urgency following reports from cellmates suggesting the inmate intended to harm his partner after a telephone conflict. Consequently, police placed the woman under protection and issued RO-Alert messages to residents, advising them to remain vigilant and avoid contact with the man.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-20: Baia Mare police launch manhunt for escaped inmate

Police in Baia Mare, Romania, are searching for 28-year-old inmate Dorel Dorin Moldovan, who escaped from a work site. Authorities are using thermal drones and have placed his partner under protection.

11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/baia-mare-police-launch-manhunt-for-escaped-inmate

### 2026-08-17: Romania police conduct search for escaped inmate and address domestic violence

Romanian authorities are conducting a large-scale search for an escaped inmate in Baia Mare while addressing multiple domestic violence incidents and protection order violations across several counties.

16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/multiple-road-accidents-reported-in-romania-and-moldova

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Cite as: Prison escape and manhunt in Baia Mare. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/prison-escape-and-manhunt-in-baia-mare