A major manhunt is underway in Missouri after five inmates, including three which authorities describe as “known sex offenders,” escaped a St. Louis prison.
The St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department says the jailbreak at the county’s detention center in Farmington began around 7 p.m. Tuesday. At this time the group entered a secured cell, then “made their way through a secured door by use of force.”
🔴🔴Be extra careful if you live in Mississippi ! ! !
Missouri manhunt underway for 5 escaped inmates, including three 'known sex offenders' https://t.co/As2NYHntjB #FoxNews— 🇺🇸 USAF PATRIOT 🇺🇸 (@TOMRJZSR) January 19, 2023
The sheriff explained to local FOX 2 News, that from there it is believed they got onto the jail’s roof through corridors containing the facility’s plumbing. Then they made their way back to ground level and out of the area.
The inmates have stolen a gray 2009 Scion TC with Missouri temporary tags from the parking lot of the Centene Corporation, a nearby healthcare business. They were last seen “traveling in a southerly direction.”
“All inmates were being held on felony charges. Three inmates, LuJuan Tucker, Aaron Sebastian, and Kelly McSean (AKA: Larry Bemboom) are known sex offenders. They were being held for crimes committed while confined in the Missouri Department of Corrections Sexual Offender Treatment Center,” the department said. “Dakota Pace and Michael Wilkins were being held on felony warrants.”
Manhunt underway for escaped inmates in Missouri – One America News Networkhttps://t.co/UMlLCPmXlm https://t.co/N3GJQ3YGLC
— Filtered News (@filterednews) January 19, 2023
Investigators said in a statement that the inmates discarded their orange prison clothing and were observed on surveillance cameras “wearing white thermal leggings, white boxer and/or basketball shorts and white t-shirts,” while “Tucker was wearing a black t-shirt.”
The St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department says the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the United States Marshals Service are assisting in the investigation. The Marshalls are offering rewards of up to $5,000 for information leading to the inmates’ captures.
The Marshals Service is describing each of the men as “dangerous,” and authorities are asking anyone who spots them to keep their distance and call 911.
The Marshals Service said in a statement that Tucker has been charged with the rape of a 12-year-old girl, while McSean was being held on charges linked to the sexual assault of a 39-year-old woman.