Patrick Martin, an inmate who escaped from a work detail on the grounds of Rayburn Correctional Center Sunday, May 4, was recaptured without incident Thursday, May 8, at 10:29 a.m.
He was found in the woods near Seal Road, close to the Angie prison.
Martin, 52, was considered a minimum-security inmate and a trusty and had been assigned to take care of the horses.
He escaped Sunday evening, and procedures to locate and apprehend him began immediately. The search has been ongoing since that time.
A perimeter was established, and specially trained officers began searching for tracks to locate Martin. These operations were coordinated with the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Late Wednesday night, a resident returning home to a mobile home north of Varnado noticed the door had been damaged and reported it to authorities. Evidence was obtained that indicated Martin had been involved in the break-in, but he had left the scene before officers could apprehend him.
Helicopters provided by the Louisiana State Police and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office began an aerial search of the area, and officers were deployed to search on foot.
Rayburn K-9 chase team members eventually cornered the offender and took him into custody. Martin was escorted back to the Rayburn Correctional Center infirmary for observation.
Warden Robert Tanner reiterated his thanks to the local, state and federal agencies that participated in the search.
“The successful conclusion of this manhunt is a testament to the diligence and devotion to public safety by my staff, the Washington and St. Tammany Parish sheriffs offices, Louisiana State Police, Department of Homeland Security, Dixon Correctional Institute, Louisiana State Penitentiary and Louisiana Probation and Parole, along with the Bogalusa, Varnado, Angie and Franklinton Police Departments and the Pearl River County (Miss.) Sheriff’s Office.”
Martin had been charged with armed robbery and sentenced to 15 years on March 28, 2006. He would have been eligible for release Dec. 30, 2017 with his good time credits.
He now faces institutional disciplinary actions that could result in a loss of all good time he has earned since he has been incarcerated, in addition to facing criminal prosecution for the escape and other criminal acts committed after the escape.