A daring jailbreak occurred in central Georgia as four prisoners, including a man with a pending murder charge, fled the establishment through a damaged second-floor window and maneuvered their way past the perimeter fences. Their bold escape was facilitated by an apparent compromise of the jail’s stringent security measures.
The incident unfolded at the Bibb County Detention Center in Macon, located approximately 84 miles southeast of Atlanta. The escape was staged around 3 in the morning when the inmates seized the opportunity to sneak out through a broken window in the day room and a cut section in the fence.
Bibb County Sheriff, David Davis, suggested possible involvement of an outsider, witnessed in a blue Dodge Challenger in the nearby parking lot, seemingly aiding the escape. The vehicle had been seen earlier in the evening, likely tampering with the barriers and supplying the inmates with items that could have been used in their exit.
Among the escaped convicts is 52-year-old Joey Fournier, held on murder charges. He is joined by 24-year-old Marc Kerry Anderson, accused of aggressive assault, 29-year-old Chavis Demaryo Stokes, charged with illegal possession of a firearm and drug trafficking, and Johnifer Dernard Barnwell, 37, who was serving time on federal charges connected to the armed distribution of a significant volume of narcotics.
The law enforcement launched an immediate investigation that currently encompasses an examination of footage featuring the blue vehicle parked near the fence of the jail during the escape. The link between the vehicle and the escapees is yet not clearly established.
Sheriff Davis also revealed that at the time of the escape, the jail was operating with a staff of less than 10 people. Acknowledging the shortcomings, the department is instigating staffing modifications at the facility.
Speculations run high regarding how the inmates managed to leave their cells and access a common area meant for recreational periods, as there is a possibility the day room was unintentionally left unlocked during the night.
The four escapees, who seemingly did not know each other prior to their capture, intriguingly managed to make their getaway from the oldest section of the 43-year-old building.
To expedite their recapture, the public has been enlisted for help, with a $1,000 reward for any information leading to their capture. The precautionary measures following the incident led to the lockdown of 38 schools in the Bibb County School District. While outdoor activities are limited during the lockdown, classroom instruction continues.
The eventfulness of the escape is shadowed by the pressing concern of ensuring the safety of over 21,000 students in the district and reinstate tranquility in the community. Meanwhile, authorities continue their extensive manhunt for the escaped prisoners while investigating the systemic lapses that led to this shocking event.
