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Escaped DeKalb County Inmates Captured in Florida After Recorded-Call, Lyft-Assisted Getaway

Investigators traced a jailhouse call to a pickup followed by a Lyft to South Florida, prompting a broader review of security at the aging jail.

Overview

  • All three escapees — Stevenson Charles, 24, Yusuf Minor, 31, and Naod Yohannes, 25 — were arrested in South Florida within roughly 24 hours of their disappearance.
  • U.S. Marshals say the men coordinated on a recorded jail phone, arranged a pickup to an associate’s home, then took a Lyft to Florida, where a federal task force located them.
  • DeKalb officials said a portion of a cell was “compromised” to facilitate the break; the area has been repaired as investigators examine similar vulnerabilities.
  • Authorities had warned the public the fugitives might be armed and described Charles as extremely dangerous, citing a life sentence and a violent criminal history.
  • An inquiry continues into the escape’s exact mechanics and detection timeline, and officials signaled the aging facility will require resources and upgrades.