Three inmates — Stevenson Charles, Yusuf Minor and Naod Yohannes — escaped the aging DeKalb County Jail and were arrested in the Miami area after roughly a four-hour head start. Investigators reviewed calls that indicate outside help: a man allegedly picked them up, took them to a girlfriend’s home, and a Lyft carried them toward Florida. U.S. Marshals tracked and captured the trio; the FBI interviewed the Lyft driver and officials say no one was harmed. The jail has repaired the compromised area and is pursuing further security improvements.
Three Inmates Escape Aging DeKalb County Jail, Captured In Miami After Four-Hour Manhunt
The breakout happened early Monday morning at the DeKalb County Jail and was discovered during a routine security check, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office said. - Alyssa Pointer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/Pool/AP/File
A routine morning inspection at the DeKalb County Jail, just east of Atlanta, turned into a multi-state manhunt after officials discovered three inmates had escaped the facility and later were captured in the Miami area.
How The Escape Unfolded
DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox said authorities "jumped into action immediately" after discovering that a portion of a cell had been compromised at the more-than-30-year-old jail. By the time staff detected the breach, the escapees — identified as Stevenson Charles, Yusuf Minor and Naod Yohannes — had an estimated four-hour lead, officials said.
Who The Escapees Are
Charles is already serving a federal life sentence for murder and faced additional DeKalb County murder and armed robbery charges. Minor and Yohannes face local charges that include armed robbery and arson. The men are reported to be between 24 and 31 years old.
Investigation And Arrests
Officials reviewed recorded phone calls made by the inmates in the period leading up to the escape. Authorities say Charles called a man shortly before the breakout; that man allegedly picked the inmates up outside the jail and drove them to the home of Minor’s girlfriend. The girlfriend then arranged a Lyft that transported the men toward Florida, U.S. Marshals said.
U.S. Marshals tracked the trio to the Miami area and arrested them there, officials announced Tuesday. The Lyft driver was interviewed by the FBI as part of an inquiry into whether the men committed kidnapping while evading custody; officials said the driver was traumatized and is being offered support. To the knowledge of DeKalb authorities, no one was harmed while the men were on the run.
Facility Concerns And Next Steps
DeKalb Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Temetris Atkins confirmed a cell section had been compromised but declined to provide technical details so as not to give others ideas for exploiting the facility. Officials said the compromised area has been repaired and similar sections have been reinforced. Sheriff Maddox said the department will evaluate and pursue additional improvements to prevent future escapes.
Ongoing Investigation: Authorities continue to probe the breach and the outside assistance that enabled the inmates to travel from Georgia to Florida.
