Escaped Inmate and Accomplice Captured in Idaho after Manhunt; Shooting Injures 3 Officers

In Idaho, a prisoner named Skylar Meade and his accomplice Nicholas Umphenour have been apprehended after a 36-hour manhunt, according to Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar. The pair was arrested in Twin Falls, two hours away from where Meade escaped from Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise. Both suspects were taken into custody separately following a short vehicle chase. There were no shots fired during the operation.

The escape took place early on Wednesday morning, when Meade was being transported from the hospital following self-injurious behavior at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution. At this time, three Idaho correctional officers were ambushed with gunfire. Typically in such high-risk circumstances, an inmate would be accompanied by two unarmed staff members, with an armed staff member on watch.

The suspects, who are said to be connected to the white supremacist group Aryan Knights, managed to flee the scene in a getaway car before the police arrived. Moreover, two homicides are thought to be linked with the two suspects, according to Lt. Colonel Sheldon Kelley of the Idaho State Police. Two adult males were killed, and Meade’s shackles were found at one of the crime scenes. Furthermore, a car belonging to one of the victims was in the suspects’ possession.

Meade has a history of convictions, including aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a firearm. He is a documented member of the Aryan Knights and was expected to be released in 2036. It should be noted that escapes from US prisons are rather rare, with less than 1% of inmates escaping annually, according to Jeff Mellow, a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Notwithstanding the strong security measures in place in correctional facilities, officers must maintain extreme vigilance at all times. An escapee only needs to get lucky once, noted Mellow.