Manhunt underway for third escaped Louisiana inmate

Authorities are searching Saturday for an inmate who escaped a Louisiana jail this week along with two other inmates.

Keith Eli, 24, remains at large after escaping from the St. Landry Parish Jail on December 3, according to a press release from the St. Landry Parish Sheriff‘s Office.

The two other inmates who escaped have been located following a multi-agency search.

Previous jailbreaks this year have spurred policy debates and raised questions on jail oversight and maintenance, with repercussions for public safety and criminal justice administration statewide.

Newsweek reached out to the Sheriff’s office by email Saturday for more information.

Why It Matters

The incident has renewed scrutiny over Louisiana’s correctional system, coming only months after a separate mass jailbreak in New Orleans prompted national headlines.

St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz and local authorities have cited community safety and the urgent need to capture Eli, who faces a violent felony charge, as primary concerns in their relentless pursuit for his recapture.

What To Know

Authorities in Opelousas, Louisiana, have been searching for Keith Eli, 24, since the early morning hours of December 3 after he and two others escaped custody from the St. Landry Parish Jail.

Law enforcement discovered the breakout during a morning check and subsequently initiated a multi-agency manhunt.

The inmates managed to break out by identifying and exploiting a deteriorating section of an upper wall, removing the mortar binding the concrete blocks to create an exit.

They then used bedsheets and other improvised materials to scale the outer wall, drop onto a first-floor roof, and lower themselves to the ground, according to Guidroz.

The escape occurred at the St. Landry Parish Jail, located about 130 miles northwest of New Orleans. Eli was in jail facing an attempted second-degree murder charge.

The two other escapees were identified as Johnathan Jevon Joseph, 24, and Joseph Allen Harrington, 26. Joseph was being held on charges including principal to first-degree rape and multiple firearms offenses; Harrington faced charges such as home invasion and aggravated assault with a firearm, the sheriff’s office said.

Harrington died by suicide after being found by authorities, Port Barre Police Chief Deon Boudreaux told the Associated Press (AP) over the phone.

Joseph was recaptured on December 5, 2025, after investigators, acting on a tip, found him hiding out at a residence, according to the AP.

Sheriff’s department spokesperson Maj. Mark LeBlanc cautioned residents of St. Landry Parish to remain vigilant, lock their doors and vehicles, and avoid approaching Eli if spotted.

The St. Landry Parish escape is the latest in a series of bold jail breaks to occur in Louisiana this year.

In May, 10 inmates escaped from the New Orleans jail by creating a hole behind a toilet, prompting a months-long, multi-state search before all fugitives were eventually captured.

The recurrence of such incidents has led to finger-pointing among local officials and ongoing investigations into jail conditions and protocols.

What People Are Saying

Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz, St. Landry Parish Sheriff, said in a statement cited by the AP Saturday: “We would prefer that he surrender himself peaceably, but we will not rest until he is captured.”

Maj. Mark LeBlanc, St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, told media during the search: “They’re charged with violent felonies and we know they’re desperate to get away.”

What Happens Next

Authorities have stated that the search for Eli will continue until he is apprehended.

Law enforcement will maintain heightened patrols and investigative activities in St. Landry Parish and surrounding areas, and the sheriff’s office has committed to an internal investigation into how the escape occurred.

Officials have warned the public not to intervene and to report any sightings of Eli to law enforcement immediately.