A routine check at the DeKalb County Jail, located just east of Atlanta, turned into a major manhunt on Monday after officials discovered that three inmates had escaped.
DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox said authorities acted immediately to locate the fugitives. “We jumped into action immediately,” Maddox stated.
The three men — Stevenson Charles, Yusuf Minor, and Naod Yohannes — were all facing violent crime charges. Charles had already been sentenced to life in prison on federal murder charges and faced additional murder and armed robbery charges locally. Minor and Yohannes were charged with armed robbery and arson.
Officials announced on Tuesday that all three men were captured in South Florida. Authorities have not revealed how the inmates managed to escape without being noticed, citing ongoing investigations.
Sheriff Maddox described the jail as an “aging facility that’s deteriorating right before our eyes.” Chief Deputy Temetris Atkins noted that a portion of the cell had been compromised but declined to give details, warning that it could inspire future escape attempts.
By the time the breach was discovered, the inmates had a four-hour head start, officials said. Investigators reviewed the inmates’ recorded phone calls leading up to the escape. Charles reportedly called an acquaintance before the jailbreak. This individual picked up the men and drove them to Minor’s girlfriend’s home.
The girlfriend then arranged for a Lyft to take the inmates to Florida. U.S. Marshal Thomas Brown confirmed that the three men were eventually tracked and arrested in the Miami area. “The Lyft driver is very traumatized by this,” Brown said, noting the FBI interviewed the driver regarding possible kidnapping charges. The driver is receiving support.
Authorities confirmed that no one was harmed while the inmates were evading custody.
The escape highlights security concerns at the 30-year-old facility. Officials are now focusing on repairs and security upgrades. Atkins said the compromised area has been fixed, and similar areas have been reinforced to prevent future incidents.
Sheriff Maddox added that the department will review other improvements needed to secure the jail. “We’re going to focus on what we can do to stop it from happening in the future,” she said.
This escape follows other recent incidents at U.S. jails. In May, ten inmates broke out of a New Orleans facility using electric hair clippers to cut through cell walls. Earlier this month, three inmates escaped a different Louisiana jail after removing mortar and concrete blocks from a wall.
Authorities continue to investigate the DeKalb County Jail escape and the individuals who assisted the inmates in leaving the facility.
