Investigation shows jail mistakes led to inmate escape
PALATKA (AP) – Putnam County authorities says personnel and equipment failures are to blame for the April escape of two inmates from the jail.
The escape of Doni Ray Brown and Timothy Wayne Fletcher spawned a dayslong manhunt in several states. Authorities say the men stole two vehicles and killed Fletcher’s 66-year-old step-grandmother. She owned one of the cars.
In an internal investigation released Wednesday, Sheriff Jeff Hardy says he terminated one employee and disciplined eight others. The investigation shows the men were also able to conceal a vehicle jack in their cell for days.