Manhunt continues for four escaped Dallas County inmates would could be in Selma

Dallas County Sheriff Mike Granthum says investigators are getting closer to capturing the four inmates who escaped from the Perry County Correctional Facility early Saturday morning and added they could be in Selma.

Residents are asked to report sightings to law enforcement and consider them dangerous, Granthum said. The search is a multi-agency effort with assistance from the U.S. Marshals office task force and Selma police.

“We just had at least 50 agents on the ground… looking for these inmates,” Granthum said on Sunday morning.

Granthum said the breakout was a coordinated plan that involved a fake medical emergency, a waiting getaway car and outside help. Their driver has been arrested.

Between 1 and 1:30 a.m., Dallas County inmates Marquavious Billingsley, Jaden Maxwell, Johnny Bush Jr., and Kevin Gunn – who were placed in Perry County’s facility in Uniontown because the Dallas County jail is closed – forced their way past two detention officers after one inmate pretended to need medical attention. 

“They had an inmate to fake a medical emergency inside one of the pods,” Granthum said. “As the two officers entered the cell, which is protocol, they forced their way past them, through the door, and actually jumped three different fences.”

Granthum said surveillance video captured the entire escape, including a vehicle waiting “just adjacent to the side of the jail.” That car, he said, was found within two hours and was being driven by Keivena Lewis. “We took her into custody… aiding and abetting the escape, hindering prosecution, obstructing government operations,” he said. “She’s being held at this time.”

From there, investigators began piecing together the escape route. The sheriff said the four men ditched their jail uniforms at GWC Homes, then moved through Jim Minor Homes, where video showed “a black Chevrolet vehicle picking one of them up.” That vehicle was later found abandoned at a residence in Selma.

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Despite the leads, none of the four escapees have been located. “We have information that they may have left the area,” Granthum said. “Not 100 percent sure.”

The sheriff said the men should be considered dangerous. “Anytime anybody escapes, people get desperate,” he said. “They don’t have jobs… how else can they get funds? Either steal it, or rob it or do some illegal activity. So we do consider them armed and dangerous.”

Granthum also explained how the inmates coordinated with their getaway driver. The jail uses handheld communication devices known as chirps, which allow inmates to send monitored text messages. “Everything that goes to that device is recorded,” he said. Investigators discovered messages between the inmates and Lewis. “She actually sent a text that we intercepted saying that she’s on standby waiting for them,” Granthum said. “And he said it’d be just a matter of minutes before they could get out of there.”

The sheriff warned that anyone helping the escapees will face charges. “If you are hindering these people, or helping them in any kind of way, you can be held accountable,” he said. “And you will be held accountable.”

He urged residents to report any sightings immediately. “If you see them, don’t approach them,” he said. “Get a good description, a location, or what have you.” 

Call Dallas County Sheriff’s office at 334-874-2530.

Tips can be reported anonymously. “If you don’t feel confident, you feel scared, or whatever, call Crime Stoppers at 215-STOP,” Granthum said. “Your call will be kept confidential, and you can receive a cash reward.”

As the search continues, Granthum said it is only a matter of time. “Their time is running out,” he said. “When we close in on them, we’ll bring them back… and put them where they belong, and that’s in jail.”