LOUISIANA — Authorities have captured the third and final inmate who escaped from St. Landry Parish Jail in early December, ending a weeks-long search.
The escape occurred on December 3, when three inmates in their 20s—jailed on violent charges—broke through a deteriorating section of the jail wall. Using sheets and other materials, they scaled the side of the building and dropped onto a lower roof before fleeing.
Capture of Keith Eli:
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The last escapee, 24-year-old Keith Eli, was apprehended Friday in Opelousas by narcotics detectives and SWAT without incident.
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Eli faces one count of attempted second-degree murder.
Previous Captures:
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Johnathan Jevon Joseph, 24, who faced charges including principal to first-degree rape and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, was captured on December 8.
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Joseph Allen Harrington, 26, facing multiple felony charges including home invasion, died by suicide days after the escape when authorities located him following a tip.
Maj. Mark LeBlanc of the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office called the jailbreak unprecedented in its method. “These three were just a little more creative than in years past,” he said.
The escape comes months after a similar incident in May at Orleans Justice Center, where 10 inmates used a faulty cell door and a hole behind a toilet to flee. Nine were captured within six weeks; the final escapee, who had the most violent record, was apprehended in October.
Authorities credit tips and intelligence gathering for the capture of Eli, emphasizing the continued cooperation of the public in locating fugitives.
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