By Harshit
ST. LANDRY PARISH, LOUISIANA —
Authorities in Louisiana are continuing an intensive manhunt for the last of three inmates who carried out a dramatic jailbreak from the St. Landry Parish Jail last week, officials confirmed, after one escapee was captured alive and another died by suicide when surrounded by police.
The escape, which occurred late Wednesday night, involved three inmates accused of violent crimes who methodically dismantled part of the jail’s outer wall, fashioned a makeshift rope from bedsheets, and climbed down onto a first-floor roof before fleeing the facility. The incident has renewed scrutiny of jail security, staffing shortages, and long-standing disputes between the sheriff’s office and parish leaders over the condition of the facility.
How the escape unfolded
According to St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz, the inmates gradually removed mortar and concrete blocks from a section of the jail wall over an extended period, creating an exit large enough to escape unnoticed. Using knotted bedsheets, they scaled down the exterior of the building and dropped onto a roof before leaving the jail grounds.
All three men were being held on serious charges, authorities said.
“Their actions were calculated and deliberate,” Guidroz said in a social media statement. “This was not a spontaneous act. It required time, opportunity, and planning.”
One fugitive still on the run
The inmate still at large has been identified as Keith Eli, 24, who was being held on an attempted second-degree murder charge. Law enforcement agencies across the region remain on high alert, and the sheriff’s office says it is devoting all available resources to locating him.
“We will continue our efforts, without end, to apprehend Keith Eli,” Guidroz said in a news release Friday. “We would prefer that he surrender himself peaceably, but we will not rest until he is captured.”
Authorities have urged residents not to approach Eli and to immediately report any sightings. Anonymous tips can be submitted to St. Landry Crime Stoppers, officials said.
Second inmate captured after tips
Another escapee, Johnathon Joseph, 24, of Opelousas, was taken into custody Friday after law enforcement received what the sheriff described as “numerous tips” from the public.
Joseph, who was jailed on charges including rape and other violent offenses, was hiding near a residence when deputies closed in. According to the Associated Press, he attempted to flee into a storage shed but eventually surrendered without further incident.
His arrest was credited in part to public cooperation, which authorities say has been critical throughout the search effort.
Third escapee dies by suicide
The third inmate, Joseph Allen Harrington, 26, was found Thursday after a tipster reported seeing a man matching his description pushing a black electric bicycle in a residential area.
Port Barre Police Chief Deon Boudreaux said officers traced Harrington to a nearby home, where police surrounded the property and used a loudspeaker to order him to come out.
Instead, officers heard a gunshot.
Harrington was later found dead inside the home, having fatally shot himself with a hunting rifle, Boudreaux told the Associated Press.
“He chose not to surrender,” Boudreaux said. “It was a tragic outcome.”
Not the first escape — and not an isolated concern
The jailbreak is the latest in a series of high-profile escapes from Louisiana detention facilities this year. In May, ten inmates broke out of a New Orleans jail in a daring overnight escape, using electric hair trimmers and clipper blades to cut through walls. The final fugitive in that case was not captured until five months later at a home in Atlanta, according to US Marshals.
It is also the second escape from the St. Landry Parish Jail since October, when a trustee inmate managed to flee while being escorted between buildings before later being recaptured by Opelousas police.
Sheriff Guidroz has repeatedly raised concerns about overcrowding, aging infrastructure, and staffing levels at the jail — claims that have sparked a public dispute with parish leadership.
Sharp disagreement over jail conditions
Guidroz has described the jail as overcrowded and in need of significant maintenance. Parish officials, however, have strongly disputed those claims.
Parish President Jessie Bellard said structural engineers inspected the jail last year and found no major issues.
“I want to make sure that people understand that this jail is not crumbling,” Bellard said during a news conference. “It’s in good shape. We have the engineer reports to back that up.”
Bellard instead blamed the escape on staffing and operational failures, arguing that deputies are stretched too thin.
“It is unreasonable to expect one deputy to manage over 100 inmates on a floor, especially during night shifts,” he said, calling for better pay and training to retain qualified personnel.
Bellard also cited the lack of adequate surveillance cameras as a critical vulnerability that must be addressed.
Investigation underway
An internal investigation into the escape has been launched, according to the sheriff’s office. Jail supervisory staff have been ordered to prepare a comprehensive report, which will be reviewed for possible disciplinary or policy action.
Sheriff’s spokesperson Maj. Mark LeBlanc acknowledged that while the jail has not previously been breached in this exact manner, determined inmates will exploit any weakness.
“With enough time and opportunity, someone will always try to escape,” LeBlanc said. “These three were just a little more creative than in years past.”
As the search for Keith Eli continues, authorities stress that public safety remains the top priority — and that the incident has exposed broader systemic issues that will not be ignored.