By Trend News Line 2024-03-22 00:23:00.
Idaho Inmate and Accomplice Captured After Escape
An Idaho inmate and his accomplice who helped him escape from a hospital visit by shooting at state corrections officers have been captured after a 36-hour manhunt, Boise police Chief Ron Winegar announced during a news conference. The inmate, Skylar Meade, and the alleged shooter, Nicholas Umphenour, were apprehended in Twin Falls, Idaho, two hours away from where Meade made his escape from Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise.
The coordinated attack and escape took place as Meade, who had been transported to the hospital by corrections officers due to engaging in self-injurious behavior at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution, was being escorted from the hospital. The three Idaho corrections officers escorting him were ambushed with gunfire during the escape.
According to Josh Tewalt, director of the Idaho Department of Correction, in high-risk situations like Meade’s hospital visit, an inmate is typically accompanied by two unarmed staff members, with an armed staff member following to keep watch. Corrections officers were preparing to take Meade back to the Idaho Maximum Security Institution when the shooter fired at the officers, resulting in two of them being struck.
Meade and Umphenour, who are tied to the White supremacist group Aryan Knights, fled the scene in a getaway car just before police arrived. The responding police officers initially believed it was an active shooter event at the hospital and rushed in to ensure the safety of those in the building. Two officers were in stable condition on Thursday, while the third officer was released from the hospital the previous night.
Umphenour, identified as the alleged shooter, faces charges of aggravated battery against law enforcement and aiding and abetting an escape. Meade, sentenced in 2016 for aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a firearm, has a history of prior convictions and is a documented gang member with ties to the Aryan Knights. He was due to be released in 2036.
Connection to Homicides
Authorities are investigating two homicides that are potentially tied to Meade and Umphenour. Two adult males were killed in separate incidents in Nez Perce County and Clearwater County. Meade’s shackles were found at one of the homicide scenes, and the men were in possession of the car of one of the victims.
The county coroners will provide the identities of the deceased and the causes of death at a later time. Lt. Colonel Sheldon Kelley of the Idaho State Police stated that the investigation into the homicides is ongoing.
Rare Nature of Prison Escapes
While there have been reports of high-profile prison escapes in recent years, experts note that such incidents are rare. Jeff Mellow, a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, mentioned that less than 1% of incarcerated individuals escape each year. He attributes this low rate to improved security measures in correctional facilities.
Mellow emphasized the importance of corrections officers maintaining vigilance at all times, as even with stringent security protocols, an escapee only needs to get lucky once. Despite the challenges, the overwhelming majority of escapees are recaptured shortly after their escape.
Conclusion
The capture of Skylar Meade and Nicholas Umphenour brings an end to a tense 36-hour manhunt that gripped Idaho. The investigation into their alleged involvement in the homicides is ongoing, shedding light on the complex web of events surrounding their escape. As the community processes these developments, the authorities continue their efforts to ensure justice is served..
– escaped Idaho inmate and accomplice
– Authorities capture escaped Idaho inmate and accomplice.
