Escapee eluded manhunt by hiding in attic of vacant house

Educator, it seems you may be right. I have just checked various sites; news from April 29th specifically mentions 'in the attic'. e.g. また屋根裏からは、「刑務官が嫌だった」という内容のメモがみつかったといいます。

= Also in the attic was found a memo saying "I couldn't take that prison officer any longer."

https://search.yahoo.co.jp/search?p=%E5%B9%B3%E5%B0%BE%E5%8F%97%E5%88%91%E8%80%85%E3%80%80%E7%99%BA%E8%A6%8B%E3%81%95%E3%82%8C%E3%81%9F%E3%83%A1%E3%83%A2%E3%81%A9%E3%81%93%E3%81%AB&aq=-1&oq=&ai=XNjNObXsTByscY9bMxFS3A&ts=9011&ei=UTF-8&fr=top_ga1_sa&x=wrt

Apparently the police only checked the genkan for shoes.

Yeah, I ‘suppose’ the attic may have just been a standard roof cavity but, if I was a cop looking for a crim, the ceiling would be the first place I’d look. I always check the ceilings when I move into a new apartment. You never know what could be stashed up there.

If it was a 'vacation home', zichi, maybe the attic was not the typical place that you describe. Funny that the police read his note, though, but did not think to check the attic.

If the guy swam, and that is his story, he will surely have put his clothes into plastic shopping bags to keep them dry, and tied them loosely together as water wings to help float him across.

Didny he just swim 300m and take a train while 6600 police were looking for him and harrassing locals？wearing wet clothes.

Good material for a film-a comedy perhaps, certainly as far as the police 'manhunt' is concerned.