Executive Summary
- Keith Eli, 24, remains at large after escaping the St. Landry Parish Jail in Louisiana on December 3.
- Two accomplices were located; one was recaptured following a tip, while the other died by suicide.
- The inmates escaped by removing mortar from a deteriorating wall and scaling down using bedsheets.
Law enforcement authorities in Louisiana are conducting an extensive search for Keith Eli, a 24-year-old inmate charged with attempted second-degree murder, following his escape from the St. Landry Parish Jail on December 3. While two other inmates who fled with Eli have been located, Eli remains at large, prompting a multi-agency manhunt in Opelousas and surrounding areas.
According to the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, the three inmates executed their escape during the early morning hours by identifying a deteriorating section of an upper wall. Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz stated that the men removed the mortar binding the concrete blocks to create an exit point. Once outside the cell, they utilized bedsheets and other improvised materials to scale the outer wall, drop onto a first-floor roof, and descend to the ground.
The two other escapees, identified as Johnathan Jevon Joseph, 24, and Joseph Allen Harrington, 26, have been accounted for since the breach. Joseph, who was held on charges including principal to first-degree rape, was recaptured on December 5 after investigators received a tip regarding his location at a residence, according to the Associated Press. Harrington, who faced charges of home invasion and aggravated assault, was found deceased by authorities; Port Barre Police Chief Deon Boudreaux confirmed to the AP that Harrington died by suicide.
Sheriff’s department spokesperson Major Mark LeBlanc urged residents of St. Landry Parish to exercise extreme caution, advising the public to secure vehicles and homes. “They’re charged with violent felonies and we know they’re desperate to get away,” LeBlanc told reporters. Sheriff Guidroz added in a press statement that while authorities prefer a peaceful surrender, they “will not rest” until Eli is apprehended.
Investigative Outlook
The incident has intensified scrutiny regarding infrastructure maintenance and oversight within the parish correctional system, particularly given the method of escape involving crumbling masonry. As the search for Eli continues with heightened patrols, local officials face pressure to address the structural vulnerabilities that facilitated the breach to prevent future public safety threats. It is important to note that all individuals mentioned in this report are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
