CHICAGO – An Indiana man convicted of murder has been on the loose since Wednesday evening after Illinois jail officials mistakenly released him, authorities said.

The Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Steven L. Robbins, 44, was released after appearing in Cook County, Ill., court on armed violence and drug charges, and the charges were dismissed.

But the office didn’t alert the public that Robbins, who was convicted of a 2002 fatal shooting a 24-year-old Kentucky man, was on the loose until Thursday evening. The office did not respond to questions about why it took about 24 hours to notify the public.