Authorities in Louisiana are engaged in an intensive search for the final member of a trio of inmates who executed a daring escape from a parish jail by exploiting a deteriorating wall.
The Elaborate Escape Plan
According to St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz, the three men discovered a weakened section of an upper wall inside the jail in Opelousas. Over an unspecified period, they meticulously removed the mortar between concrete blocks, creating a hole large enough to squeeze through. Once outside their cell, they used a makeshift rope of sheets and other materials to scale the facility's outer wall, drop onto a first-floor roof, and finally lower themselves to the ground.
The breakout from the St. Landry Parish jail, located roughly 130 miles northwest of New Orleans, was discovered earlier this week, triggering a multi-agency manhunt across southwestern Louisiana.
Fate of the Fugitives
The three escapees were all facing serious felony charges. Their fortunes since the breakout have diverged sharply.
Johnathan Jevon Joseph, 24, was captured on Friday after a brief chase. Investigators acting on a tip found him hiding in a home; he fled to a nearby storage shed but surrendered when cornered. Joseph had been jailed on charges including rape.
Joseph Allen Harrington, 26, took his own life on Thursday. Police located him at a residence and used a loudspeaker to urge him to surrender. Harrington, who was facing charges such as home invasion, subsequently died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound from a hunting rifle, according to Port Barre Police Chief Deon Boudreaux.
The search is now focused solely on Keith Eli, 24, who remains at large. Eli was being held on a charge of second-degree murder. Sheriff Guidroz stated, "We would prefer that he surrender himself peaceably, but we will not rest until he is captured." Major Mark LeBlanc, a sheriff's spokesperson, confirmed detectives and SWAT teams were actively pursuing leads on Saturday.
Jail Security and a Pattern of Breaks
Major LeBlanc noted that while he was not aware of a past breach in this specific manner at the jail, the incident highlights a persistent challenge. "Anyone will try to escape with enough time and opportunity," he remarked, adding that "these three were just a little more creative than in years past."
Authorities believe the fugitives are likely still within the parish and have warned local residents to secure their homes and vehicles. LeBlanc emphasised the danger, stating the men are "charged with violent felonies and we know they're desperate to get away." He also warned that anyone found assisting the escapees would face prosecution.
This incident is not an isolated one in Louisiana this year. In a strikingly similar case last May, ten inmates escaped a New Orleans jail by crawling through a hole behind a toilet, leaving a graffiti message reading 'To Easy LoL.' It took authorities five months to recapture all ten of those escapees.
Sheriff Guidroz has confirmed that the St. Landry Parish jailbreak will be subject to an internal investigation to determine the full circumstances and any security failures.
