Three inmates allegedly broke out of a Louisiana jail through a crumbling wall on Wednesday — and authorities are racing to capture the final escapee, who is a murder suspect.
The fugitive trio — Joseph Allen Harrington, 26, Jonathan Jevon Joseph, 24, and Keith Eli, 24 — escaped St. Landry Paris Jail in Opelousas by prying through a decaying wall over time and lowering themselves to freedom with sheets and other items, according to the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Joseph was soon nabbed, while Harrington killed himself after being found hiding inside a home. Eli is still on the run, authorities said.
“We would prefer that he surrender himself peaceably,” Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz said of Eli, who is charged with second-degree murder.
“But we will not rest until he is captured.”
Officials said Joseph — jailed on rape and other charges — was nabbed Friday after a brief chase. Police tracked a tip to a home, where he ran to nearby storage shed before being cornered and surrendering.
Harrington killed himself with a hunting rifle Thursday after police found him at a home and used a loudspeaker to try to get him to surrender, according to Port Barre Police Chief Deon Boudreaux.
Records show Harrington had been facing nine felony charges, including home invasion.
Authorities and SWAT continued the manhunt Saturday.
Police warned anyone who spots Eli to stay away and call 911 immediately.
The jailbreak comes six months after 10 inmates escaped a New Orleans prison through a small window hidden by a toilet, leaving behind graffiti mocking authorities, including “To Easy LoL.”
Authorities scoured multiple states for the runaways as local officials blamed each other for the breakout.
It took five months to recapture all 10 inmates.
The sheriff’s office said the trio in this latest escape were more cunning than in past prison busts.
Officials said the jailbreakers pried through a degraded wall, gradually removing the mortar between concrete blocks until they could slip out. They then used sheets to scale an exterior wall, drop onto a roof, and lower themselves to the ground.
“These three were just a little more creative than in years past,” sheriff spokesperson Major Mark LeBlanc said.
“They’re charged with violent felonies and we know they’re desperate to get away.”
The prison break will be investigated internally.
With Post wires.
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