8 Inmates, Including 4 Murder Suspects, Escaped Louisiana Jail and Were Recaptured Within 24 Hours By Kimberlee Speakman

Eight inmates broke out of a Louisiana jail and were all recaptured within 24 hours.

The inmates — identified as Savion Wheeler, 21, Hugo Molina, 27, Trenton Taplin, 29, Kolin Loney, 21, Kevin Slaughter Jr., 25, Destin Brogan, 22, Krisean Salinas, 21, and Kopelon Vicknair, 19 — escaped on Friday, Jan. 30, according to a press release from the Louisiana State Police (LSP).

The inmates escaped from the Riverbend Detention Center in East Carroll Parish and were reported missing at around 1:20 a.m. local time on Friday. Police did not say how the inmates managed to get free, but warned the public that all of the fugitives were considered “violent offenders.”

“Do not approach under any circumstances,” the LSP wrote in the release. “If you observe or have information regarding their whereabouts, contact law enforcement immediately.”

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a statement on X on Jan. 30 that she had been in contact with the authorities handling the case and “offered the full assistance of my office, including the Fugitive Apprehension Unit.” She added, “I am actively monitoring the situation.”

Just before 10 p.m. on Friday, the LSP announced that they had recaptured Slaughter and Loney. According to local outlet WAFB 9 News, Slaughter was previously arrested on several charges, including drug possession, robbery and domestic abuse battery, while Loney was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

Just after 12 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, the LSP announced that they had recaptured the remaining fugitives: Salinas, Brogan and Vicknair. Brogan was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the 2022 killing of a 20-year-old man, per WAFB 9 News. As for Vicknair, he was awaiting sentencing on charges related to a 2023 homicide, according to KQKI News.

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Wheeler, Molina and Taplin — who was arrested in June 2020 in connection with the deadly shooting of a 29-year-old man, per WAFB 9 News — were also apprehended.

The LSP did not say how officers were able to locate the fugitives and where they were arrested. 

The Louisiana State Police did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on the incident. 

Police said the fugitives were apprehended following a Louisiana State Police Critical Response Emergency Search Team (CREST) mission carried out in coordination with several other authorities, including the Madison Parish Sheriff’s Office, the East Carroll Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Louisiana Probation and Parole, the U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI.

The LSP said its CREST team was created to provide a “specialized, rapid-response capability for critical missing person cases, including endangered children and vulnerable adults.” The team supplements ongoing search and recovery efforts with regional expertise, investigative resources, and advanced technology, according to the release.