In a recent escape that highlights ongoing concerns about jail security, three inmates managed to break out of a jail in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, with one still on the run. According to the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, the escape occurred on Wednesday when the group removed mortar and concrete blocks from a wall. They then used sheets and other materials to scale the outer wall, allowing them to drop onto the first-floor roof before making their way to the ground.
This incident adds to a troubling trend of jail escapes in Louisiana, following a previous case where ten inmates broke free from a New Orleans jail earlier this year. In that incident, the escapees used electric hair trimmers to cut through their cell walls, with the last inmate recaptured five months later in Atlanta.
Two of the escapees from St. Landry Parish have since been captured. Johnathon Joseph, 24, from Opelousas, was apprehended following multiple tips to law enforcement. Tragically, the third inmate, Joseph Allen Harrington, 26, who faced serious felony charges, took his own life when confronted by police after being recognized by a tipster.
Currently, Keith Eli, also 24, remains at large and is wanted on charges of attempted second-degree murder. Sheriff Bobby Guidroz has stated that the department will continue to pursue Eli until he is captured and has urged him to surrender peacefully.
In response to the escape, an internal investigation has been initiated, and the sheriff’s office is expecting a thorough report from jail supervisory staff. Notably, Sheriff Guidroz pointed out that this is not the first escape from the jail in recent months, as one inmate managed to flee in October but was later recaptured.
The condition of the jail has come under scrutiny, with Sheriff Guidroz claiming it is overcrowded and in need of maintenance. However, Parish President Jessie Bellard has refuted these claims, asserting that the jail, built in 1982, is structurally sound. Bellard has called for improved security measures and highlighted the need for better staffing to ensure the safety and security of both inmates and staff.
Anyone with information regarding Keith Eli’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact St. Landry Crime Stoppers anonymously.
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