On Friday, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings appealed to the public for assistance in helping to bring two escaped felons, believed to be in Orange County, into custody.
Joseph Jenkins and Charles Walker were erroneously released from prison, after forging court documents.
Jenkins was released from a Franklin County prison on September 27, while Walker was released on October 8.
While Demings confirmed that both men registered as felons at the Orange County Jail, as they are required to do, their erroneous release was not discovered until Tuesday, earlier this week.
Demings acknowledged that there was a systems failure, but said, his main concern was to get the escapees back in custody.
“They have committed violent crimes and should be considered dangerous, he said. There is no information that they are armed, he also said.
Jenkins and Walker were serving life sentences when they were wrongly released.
Demings said, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies were working to apprehend the men and digital bill boards with their photos have been erected throughout the metro Orlando area. He also said that the reward amount had been increased up to $5,000, for information leading to the apprehension of Jenkins and Walker.
“We do need the assistance of the public to help in bringing these individuals into custody, said Demings. “And we are asking anyone with information to turn it over to law enforcement.”
“My main concern is to get these individuals off the streets of Orange County,” he added.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is leading an ongoing investigation as to how and why the systems failures occurred. Demings described the breakdown as “an aberration.”
“I am not here to point fingers at anyone. My job is to take these fugitives into justice,” he said.
Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Jenkins and Walker should call 911 or Crimeline at 800 423-TIPS.
