MARSHALL COUNTY, Miss. — A manhunt is underway for an accused murderer who escaped early Sunday morning from the Marshall county jail in Holly Springs, Miss.
Investigators say Antoine Adams, 27, is charged with three murders – one in Marshall County and two in Memphis.
Adams had been in the Marshall County Jail since August after being arrested on a warrant in Houston, TX.
“He is a very, very dangerous individual,” said Marshall County Sheriff Kenny Dickerson.
Sheriff Dickerson said sometime between 1 and 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Adams stuffed pillows under the blankets on his bed to make it look like he was asleep, then managed to lift a glass panel from a window in his cell, squeeze through a small opening and jump out before crawling under the barbed-wire fence.
Sheriff Dickerson blamed the escape on the jail’s poor construction.
“I know this sounds terrible having a jail with a window, but that’s how ill constructed the jail was built back 25 years ago,” he said.
He tells us he was in the process of replacing the glass in the cell windows with steel plates, and coincidentally, was scheduled to start on Adams’ section of the jail tomorrow.
“It’s in the process of already being done,” Sheriff Dickerson said. “We just hadn’t gotten to that particular area where he got out.“
What’s worse, he said the entire escape was caught on camera, but the jailer on duty somehow missed it and now will likely be fired.
“Somebody wasn’t watching or something,” said John Sumler, one of dozens of people who live directly across the street from the jail.
“Had that jailer or jailers been watching and doing what they’re paid for, they would have caught it,” Sheriff Dickerson said.
This isn’t the first time an inmate has escaped from the jail.
Sheriff Dickerson tells WREG there was at least one other jail break during his 22 years on the job there, but he couldn’t recall exactly when that was.
“You should have had windows secured anyway at all times with a jail,” said Helen Kizer, who also lives in one of the homes across the street.
She remembers an inmate breaking out about two years ago.
“They came straight over there, all along and around my house,” she said.
She found out about this latest escape from a loved one who saw it on the news.
“Called me this morning and said, ‘Make sure you lock your doors.’ I said, ‘What’s going on?’ They said, ‘Somebody broke out of jail. They said, ‘He’s got three murder charges,'” she added.
On top of those three murder charges, investigators say Adams is now facing an escape charge as well.
Adams is 6’0″ and 180 pounds with a neck tattoo.
He was wearing white or grey thermals when he escaped, according to authorities.
Investigators say there’s a “substantial reward” being offered for his capture and all tips are confidential.
Adams is considered extremely dangerous.
If you see him, call your local authorities or 911.
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