Isaiah Jamon Andrews, 20, accused in the Oct. 15, 2025, fatal shooting of Theodore Wheeler in Seattle, was arrested in St. Louis after being mistakenly released from the Contra Costa County Jail on Oct. 22. The accidental release went unnoticed until he had already left the facility, triggering a multi-agency manhunt led by the U.S. Marshals Service. Andrews remained at large for more than five months before being captured and is expected to be extradited to Washington to face a first-degree murder charge.
Seattle Homicide Suspect Arrested In St. Louis After Accidental Jail Release
Accused killer caught in Missouri after California jail mistakenly freed him
Isaiah Jamon Andrews, 20, has been captured in St. Louis after being mistakenly released from a California jail last year, authorities said.
Arrest and Allegations
The U.S. Marshals Service arrested Andrews in St. Louis, Missouri, following a months-long search. He is accused of fatally shooting 20-year-old Theodore Wheeler in Seattle’s Northgate neighborhood on Oct. 15, 2025, and is expected to be extradited to Washington to face a first-degree murder charge.
Initial Detention and Accidental Release
Andrews was originally taken into custody days after the shooting in Antioch, California, after a vehicle pursuit involving multiple law enforcement agencies. He was booked into the Contra Costa County Jail on a temporary homicide warrant and on local charges. Despite an outstanding juvenile warrant from Sacramento County and the out-of-state homicide warrant tied to the Seattle case, Andrews was mistakenly released from custody on Oct. 22.
The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office. Andrews was initially arrested after a vehicle pursuit involving multiple law enforcement agencies and booked into the Contra Costa County Jail on a temporary homicide warrant.(Getty Images)
Multi-Agency Manhunt
The error was not discovered until after Andrews had already left the facility, prompting a multi-agency manhunt that included the U.S. Marshals Service. He remained at large for more than five months before being located and arrested without incident in St. Louis.
Official Response and Family Reaction
Authorities have not publicly explained how the mistaken release occurred, and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes acknowledged the mistake in October and said officials were working urgently to return Andrews to custody.
The victim’s mother told KING 5 Seattle she felt "sad, hurt, [and] disappointed" and said she feared for her family’s safety after learning the suspect had been released. She demanded accountability and said the error endangered her family.
The arrest closes a prolonged search but leaves questions about how the release happened and what steps will be taken to prevent similar errors in the future.
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