Convicted murderer, 69, escapes prison in Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, Que.

The whereabouts of a convicted killer are unknown, after he escaped from a multi-level security federal institution in Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, Que., about 40 kilometres northwest of Montreal. 

According to the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), Lori Bill Germa, 69, was unaccounted for during the 10 p.m. count at the Archambault Institution's minimum-security unit on Saturday. 

The agency said Germa is serving an indeterminate sentence for first-degree murder.

Germa is described as having a fair complexion, brown eyes and no hair. He is 5′10″ tall and weighs 166 lbs.

Germa also has a scar on his left leg and multiple tattoos, including a sword tattoo on his left arm and two seahorses and a dragon on the right arm. 

CSC said it contacted Quebec provincial police and a warrant has been issued for Germa's arrest.

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said Sunday that they had joined the search after being notified by Quebec provincial officers.

OPP said in a news release that they believe Germa may be in southwestern Ontario, in  the South Bruce or Hanover areas. 

Both areas are northwest of Toronto with Hanover roughly 180 kilometres away and South Bruce some 220 kilometres.

The release also said Germa was convicted of murder in 1992.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is being asked to contact police.

The federal agency said in a news release that it will be launching an investigation into the incident. 

This is the second time in less than a month that a convicted killer has escaped the facility. 

On June 22, a 62-year-old inmate serving a life-sentence for second-degree murder, was also unaccounted for. 

He was located and apprehended the next day by the Sûreté du Québec.