Three men incarcerated on murder charges orchestrated a daring escape from a Georgia jail before hijacking a Lyft driver and forcing her on a terrifying 10-hour journey to South Florida, according to newly released federal court documents.
The Jailbreak and Violent Hijacking
The fugitives, identified as Stevenson Charles, 24; Yusuf Minor, 31; and Naod Yohannes, 25, managed to break out of the DeKalb County jail in Decatur, Georgia, on Sunday. The facility is located roughly 15 miles outside Atlanta. Their escape was discovered during a routine security check.
In their bid for freedom, the trio enlisted the help of Minor's girlfriend to order a Lyft rideshare using a fake female name, prosecutors allege. When the unsuspecting driver arrived, the situation turned violent. The men assaulted her, wrapping a rope around her neck and dragging her into the backseat of her own car.
A Terrifying Journey to Florida
According to an FBI affidavit, the driver endured a horrific ordeal during the subsequent journey. She told authorities the men threatened to rape and kill her throughout the long drive to Florida, which lasted approximately ten hours.
Upon reaching the Miami suburb of Miramar, the escapees used the driver's credit cards and bank details to rent a property. They also continued to use her vehicle to get around the area. Their freedom was short-lived, however. Police tracked the trio using automated license plate reader technology, which scans for wanted vehicles.
Recapture and Jail Security Review
All three men were arrested on Tuesday, just three days after their escape. The Lyft driver was rescued from the rental property and received medical examination for her injuries.
The jailbreak has prompted a serious review of security at the DeKalb County facility. Chief Deputy Temetris Atkins revealed the men escaped through an older, compromised section of the jail. "We repaired the area that was compromised, and we're looking at other areas that are similar to that to fortify them," Atkins stated.
Investigations following the recapture revealed phone records showing one of the men had contacted associates outside the jail to aid in evading arrest. Yusuf Minor and Naod Yohannes are both serving life sentences for murder, while Stevenson Charles was being held on charges of murder and armed robbery prior to the escape.
