A Webster Parish inmate was recaptured within 15 minutes Wednesday after escaping custody from the fourth floor of the parish courthouse.
Kaylee Jones, 19, of Springhill, was taken into custody by a Webster Parish Sheriff’s deputy outside a gas station on Lee Street shortly before 11:30 AM. Authorities said she appeared to be attempting to arrange transportation when she was located.
Jones had been booked into the parish jail on April 4 by Springhill police. She faced charges of possession of Schedule II controlled dangerous substances (methamphetamines) and drug paraphernalia, with bond set at $2,500. She now also faces a felony charge of simple escape.
According to Sheriff Jason Parker, the escape occurred while a lock mechanism was being replaced on the jail elevator. The incomplete repair left the elevator door slightly ajar, creating an opportunity for Jones.
“Jones apparently waited until one of our jailers was busy dealing with other inmates in a rear area and the other was inside the office. She got into the elevator while the deputies were distracted,” Parker said.
She was able to ride the elevator to the ground floor and exit the courthouse via a ramp. Bystanders reportedly captured video footage showing her removing her orange jumpsuit while passing a nearby business.
Jones walked south from the courthouse and was identified by Deputy Mickey Perryman at the Shell station. Perryman, acting on a description circulated during a 911 call, arrested her without incident.
The escape highlights longstanding concerns about the infrastructure of the courthouse jail, which was built in 1953. A new women’s jail is currently under construction in Webster Parish and is expected to open by mid-2026. Officials say the $5.1 million facility will replace the current jail and offer modern security features, updated accommodations, and expanded programming for inmates.