DeKalb jail escapees threatened Lyft driver with rape and torture during Florida flight, affidavit says
Three inmates — Stevenson Charles (24), Yusuf Minor (31) and Naod Yohannes (25) — who broke out of the aging DeKalb County Jail during a routine security check were captured without incident in the Miami/Miramar area after a multistate manhunt; one is charged with murder and armed robbery and the others face armed robbery- and arson-related charges. An FBI affidavit says the men forced a Lyft driver to drive them to Florida and held her in the car for 6–10 hours while trying to access her phone and banking, threatened to shoot, rape and torture her, used her credit card to rent an Airbnb, and investigators — including U.S. Marshals using recorded jail calls — are probing people who assisted the escape.
📌 Key Facts
- The breakout was discovered during a routine security check early Monday at the DeKalb County Jail; county officials say the facility’s more‑than‑30‑year‑old infrastructure enabled the inmates to compromise part of a cell and escape.
- The three escapees were identified as Stevenson Charles (24), Yusuf Minor (31) and Naod Yohannes (25). Law enforcement says Charles has a prior federal weapons conviction, Minor was serving a life sentence for a 2024 murder conviction, and Yohannes faced arson and related charges; all now face additional counts related to the escape.
- After a multistate manhunt the three were captured in the Miami area late Monday; Broward deputies spotted the Lyft vehicle around 10:45 p.m., the suspects briefly fled, and all three were in custody by about 11:40 p.m. after authorities tracked a rental in Miramar where one was arrested.
- Investigators say the fugitives were initially picked up in Georgia, then forced a Lyft driver to drive them toward Miami; the FBI affidavit says the driver was held in the car for roughly 6–10 hours and was later located and treated by emergency responders.
- According to an affidavit and court records, the inmates tried to access the driver’s phone and online banking, used her credit card to rent the Miramar residence where they stayed, and — after the driver attempted to escape once — escalated to explicit threats that she would be shot, raped and tortured.
- Timeline details indicate the men were first picked up by an associate and taken to Yusuf Minor’s girlfriend’s home before ordering the Lyft under a fake female name, and U.S. Marshals say recorded jail phone calls helped identify people who assisted the escape, suggesting a broader network is under investigation.
- Local officials and the U.S. Marshals Service emphasized the escape is being taken “very seriously,” warned the public that the men may be armed and dangerous and urged extreme caution; authorities have not publicly disclosed full details of how the escape was carried out.
- Lyft confirmed it is cooperating with law enforcement, said it is "deeply concerned" and relieved the driver is safe, and has reached out to offer support to the driver.
📊 Relevant Data
In DeKalb County, Georgia, Black residents comprise approximately 51% of the population but account for a significantly higher proportion of the jail population, with incarceration rates of 1,313 per 100,000 for Black people compared to 193 per 100,000 for White people as of recent data.
DeKalb County, Georgia - Incarceration Trends — Vera Institute
Aging infrastructure in U.S. prisons and jails, such as facilities over 30 years old, contributes to escapes by providing exploitable weaknesses, with human error linked to staffing shortages being a consistent factor in recent escapes.
Staffing shortages, old facilities, and 'nothing to lose' — CNN
Lyft reported 2,651 incidents of sexual assault and misconduct on its platform from 2020 to 2022, highlighting safety risks for drivers and riders.
Uber & Lyft Safety Concerns — Vaziri Law Group
Only about 20% of Uber drivers in the U.S. are women, largely due to safety concerns including higher risks of violence and harassment faced by female drivers.
Male Uber And Lyft Drivers Sue Over Women-Only Ride Options — Forbes
Rideshare drivers are 73% more likely to be involved in an accident than the general population, contributing to overall safety vulnerabilities.
Rideshare Accident Statistics and Driver Trends in 2025 — Insurify
📰 Sources (5)
- An FBI affidavit says the Lyft driver was held in the car for 6–10 hours while the escapees tried to access her phone and online banking records.
- After the driver attempted to escape once, the inmates escalated to explicit threats that she would be shot, raped, and tortured, according to the affidavit.
- Court records say the men used the Lyft driver’s credit card to rent the Miramar, Florida home where the third inmate was arrested and the driver was rescued.
- New timeline detail: after leaving the jail, the inmates were first picked up by an associate and taken to Yusuf Minor’s girlfriend’s home before ordering the Lyft using a fake female name.
- U.S. Marshal Thomas Brown said intelligence from recorded jail phone calls helped identify people who assisted the escape, indicating a broader network under investigation.
- DeKalb County Chief Deputy Temetris Atkins stressed that the more‑than‑30‑year‑old jail’s aging infrastructure enabled the inmates to compromise a portion of a cell and escape.
- All three DeKalb County jail escapees — Stevenson Charles (24), Yusuf Minor (31) and Naod Yohannes (25) — were captured without incident in the Miami area late Monday after a multistate manhunt.
- Investigators say the fugitives allegedly forced a Lyft driver, who initially picked them up in Georgia, to drive them to Florida along a route toward Miami, where Charles’ girlfriend lives; the driver was later located and treated by emergency responders.
- Authorities tracked the group after learning they had rented an Airbnb in Miramar, Florida; Broward County deputies spotted the Lyft vehicle around 10:45 p.m., the suspects briefly fled, and all three were in custody by about 11:40 p.m.
- The U.S. Marshals Service states Charles had been convicted of federal weapons violations (10 years to life), Minor was serving a life sentence for a 2024 murder conviction, and Yohannes was being held on arson and criminal damage charges, and all now face additional counts.
- Lyft confirmed it is cooperating with law enforcement and said it is 'deeply concerned' by the incident and 'relieved that the driver is safe,' adding that it has reached out to offer support.
- Confirms all three escaped inmates from DeKalb County Jail have been apprehended in Florida.
- Provides official confirmation from the U.S. Marshals Service Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force via assistant chief inspector Eric Heinze.
- Reiterates that one inmate was held on murder and armed robbery charges and the other two on armed robbery and arson-related charges.
- Notes that details on how the escape occurred are still not being disclosed by authorities.
- Confirms the breakout was discovered during a routine security check early Monday at the DeKalb County Jail.
- Specifies that the youngest of the three inmates is charged with murder and armed robbery; the other two face armed robbery and arson charges, among others.
- Includes a formal statement from Sheriff Melody Maddox emphasizing that the breach is being taken 'very seriously' and that efforts are focused on safely returning the inmates to custody as quickly as possible.
- Restates that the men may be armed and are considered dangerous, with a renewed warning that the public should exercise 'extreme caution' and not approach them.