Three inmates have carried out a daring escape from a Louisiana jail by exploiting a weak section of concrete wall and using bedsheets to scale an outer barrier, authorities have confirmed. The incident marks the second major jailbreak in the state this year, raising serious questions about facility security.
The Mechanics of the Escape
According to Sheriff Bobby J Guidroz, the escape took place at the St Landry parish jail in Opelousas, located roughly 130 miles north-west of New Orleans. The sheriff explained that the inmates identified a degraded section of an upper wall and, over time, painstakingly removed the mortar. This allowed them to prise out concrete blocks and create an opening.
After exiting through the hole, the trio used 'sheets and other items' to climb the facility's outer wall. They then dropped onto a first-floor roof before lowering themselves to the ground and fleeing. Sheriff Guidroz stated that an internal investigation into the breach is now underway.
The Fugitives and a Fatal Outcome
Law enforcement swiftly identified the escaped inmates. Two remain at large: Keith Eli, 24, and Johnathan Jevon Joseph, 24, both of Opelousas. Eli was being held on a charge of second-degree attempted murder, while Joseph faced multiple charges, including as a principal to first-degree rape.
The third escapee, 26-year-old Joseph Allen Harrington of Melville, was tracked down a day later. Harrington, who faced felony charges including home invasion, was found by police at a nearby residence after a tipster reported seeing him with an e-bike. After officers surrounded the home and called for him to surrender, a single gunshot was heard. Police Chief Deon Boudreaux confirmed that Harrington had taken his own life using a hunting rifle.
A Pattern of Security Failures in Louisiana
This escape follows another major security lapse in Louisiana earlier this year. In that incident, ten inmates broke out of a New Orleans jail by crawling through a hole behind a toilet. A note left at the scene reading "To Easy LoL" underscored the apparent simplicity of the breach. A five-month, multi-state manhunt was required to recapture all ten individuals.
Commenting on the latest escape, Sheriff's Department spokesperson Maj Mark LeBlanc noted that while he was unaware of past breaches in the same manner, 'anyone would try to escape with enough time and opportunity'. He described the three inmates as "a little more creative than in years past."
With no credible indication the remaining fugitives have left St Landry parish, authorities have warned local residents to secure their homes and vehicles. "They're charged with violent felonies and we know they're desperate to get away," LeBlanc stated, highlighting the ongoing risk to the community as the search continues.
