A convicted murderer from Indiana reportedly walked out the front door of a jail and back into the general public after he was mistakenly released by Illinois authorities on Wednesday night, authorities said.

Steven L. Robbins, 44, was in the midst of serving a 60-year sentence at Cook County jail in Indiana for a 2002 murder and possession of a handgun without a license, according to the Indiana Department of Corrections.

On Tuesday, Robbins was transported from the Indiana State prison on a court order to appear at Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois to face separate charges, which were reportedly dropped. On one account, the respective charges were drug-related. The sheriff's spokesperson Frank Bilecki said that Robbins was also wanted on an "armed violence warrant" for using a weapon and committing a felony.

Sheriff Tom Dart's office, which runs the Cook County jail, is currently in the process of conducting a thorough investigation as to why Robbins was released from the jail on Chicago's Southwest Side at roughly 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Bilecki stated.

"For reasons yet unknown, the offender was released by Illinois authorities," the Indiana Department of Correction said.

A preliminary investigation indicated that there was no "hold" order to keep the suspect in the prison, so the staff was under the assumption that he was free to leave.

Law enforcement officials in the Chicago area are currently assisting in the search for Robbins.

"The sheriff has ordered an investigation into the facts and circumstances regarding his court appearance and release from custody," the Cook County Sheriff's department stated.

Authorities did release clues that may help in the search for the convict but it is noted that on the right side of Robbins' neck, there's a tattoo that says "Nicole."

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