Inmate recruits ex-girlfriend and family to help him escape an Ohio jail, cops say
Several people are facing charges weeks after deputies said a man orchestrated an elaborate scheme to break out of an Ohio jail.
The group accused of helping the man escape Muskingum County Jail on Feb. 1 include his girlfriend, ex-girlfriend and multiple family members, the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office said in a Feb. 21 Facebook post.
The 37-year-old was held in jail on felony charges of tampering with evidence and possession of drug abuse instruments when he escaped, according to deputies. He was arrested in the early hours of Feb. 4, which was nearly three days after his escape, after he was found in a residence in Zanesville, deputies said in a news release.
He is now facing charges of escape, tampering with evidence, receiving stolen property and possessing criminal tools, according to deputies.
Six people from Zanesville are charged with aiding in the escape:
The inmate’s 45-year-old girlfriend is charged with escape, obstructing justice and possession of criminal tools.
The inmate’s 35-year-old sister is charged with obstructing justice and possession of criminal tools.
The inmate’s 36-year-old ex-girlfriend is charged with two counts of obstructing justice.
The inmate’s 18-year-old cousin is charged with obstructing justice and tampering with evidence. The cousin’s 18-year-old girlfriend is also facing the same charges.
The inmate’s 59-year-old stepfather/uncle is charged with obstructing justice and tampering with evidence.
“Every single person who aided (the man) after his escape had the opportunity to pick up a phone and report his location to law enforcement,” deputies said in the post.
Deputies said they plan to address security concerns at the minimum-security area of the jail.
Zanesville is about a 55-mile drive east from Columbus.
This story was originally published February 24, 2025 at 6:03 PM with the headline "Inmate recruits ex-girlfriend and family to help him escape an Ohio jail, cops say."
