Two Louisiana inmates escape through crumbling jail wall
Authorities in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana say two inmates—Keith Eli, 24, charged with second-degree attempted murder, and Johnathan Jevon Joseph, 24, charged in part as principal to first-degree rape—escaped early Wednesday by removing mortar and concrete blocks from a degrading jail wall, then using sheets to scale the exterior. A third escapee, Joseph Allen Harrington, 26, later died by suicide after police tracked him to a home in Port Barre; officials warned residents to secure homes and vehicles and said there’s no credible indication the fugitives have left the parish as an internal investigation proceeds.
📌 Key Facts
- Escape method: inmates removed mortar/concrete blocks from an upper wall and used sheets to scale the exterior
- Fugitives: Keith Eli (24) and Johnathan Jevon Joseph (24) remain at large; both face violent felony charges
- Third escapee: Joseph Allen Harrington (26) found dead by suicide after police located him in Port Barre
- Officials: Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz, Maj. Mark LeBlanc (St. Landry Parish), and Port Barre Police Chief Deon Boudreaux provided details
- Public-safety note: Residents urged to secure property; no credible indications fugitives left the parish; internal probe announced
📊 Relevant Data
St. Landry Parish Jail is facing overcrowding issues due to a dispute over inmate costs between the sheriff's office and parish government.
Overcrowding issues at St. Landry Parish Jail amid cost dispute — KLFY
In 2022, the population of St. Landry Parish was 81,773, with 53.1% White (non-Hispanic) and 39.9% Black (non-Hispanic) residents.
St. Landry Parish, LA population by year, race, & more — USAFacts
In Louisiana, Black people constituted 33% of state residents, but 52% of people in jail and 67% of people in prison.
Incarceration Trends in Louisiana — Vera Institute
Louisiana has experienced multiple jail escapes in 2025, including an escape of 10 inmates from the Orleans Justice Center.
2025 New Orleans jailbreak — Wikipedia
The violent crime rate in St. Landry Parish is 7.120 per 1,000 residents.
St. Landry Parish, LA Violent Crime Rates and Maps — CrimeGrade.org