A former employee of a Mississippi jail has been arrested and charged in connection with the June escape of an inmate who fled to Chicago and was captured after a standoff with police. The former deputy jailer, Ronnie Hunt, has been charged with conveying articles useful for the escape of a prisoner. Additional charges are likely to follow.
The inmate, Joshua Zimmerman, escaped from the DeSoto County Courthouse in Hernando, Mississippi, where he was facing charges of attempted murder and armed robbery. Zimmerman was also wanted in Houston for a murder charge. He managed to flee to Chicago, where he was apprehended after a 15-hour standoff at a restaurant near the Democratic National Convention.
Zimmerman, who was not in a jail jumpsuit at the time of his escape, was believed to have been working at the seafood restaurant where he was eventually captured. Authorities clarified that there was no connection between Zimmerman's capture and the political convention taking place nearby.
Court records reveal Zimmerman's criminal history, including a murder charge in Houston for the fatal shooting of a woman at a motel. He was also previously arrested in Connecticut on a felony sexual assault charge.
The DeSoto County sheriff emphasized that Zimmerman acted alone in his escape and refuted claims of outside assistance or access to extra clothing. Describing Zimmerman as a 'career criminal,' the sheriff highlighted his familiarity with evading authorities.
Ronnie Hunt, the former jail employee implicated in the escape, has been terminated from his position and is currently in custody in Lafayette County, Mississippi. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Zimmerman's escape continues, with authorities working to ensure accountability for all involved parties.
