AMERICUS, Ga. – A major manhunt is underway in southern Georgia after two inmates being held on serious charges, including murder, broke out of the Sumter County Jail late Sunday night. Local law enforcement confirmed the escape took place around 9:30 p.m., prompting a multi-agency effort to locate the fugitives as questions mount about how they managed to get free.
Escape From Sumter County Jail
Sheriff’s officials say Ricky Martin, 20, and Kentravious Holmes, 21, used an unsecured maintenance access point in the ceiling to slip out of the jail in Americus, about 139 miles south of Atlanta. Both men were in custody on charges that included murder, aggravated assault and aggravated battery.
Investigators suspect the pair exploited a poorly locked interior door that led into the facility’s HVAC systems, allowing them to work their way outside undetected. Officers have meanwhile spoken with relatives of the escaped inmates in hopes of gathering leads on their potential whereabouts.
Ongoing Search and Law Enforcement Response
Multiple law enforcement agencies across Georgia are coordinating to track down the fugitives, canvassing rural areas and interviewing potential witnesses. The search comes amid an uptick in high-profile breakouts in the state, including a recent case in which three inmates escaped from a facility east of Atlanta and later carjacked a vehicle before being apprehended in South Florida.
Officials warn the public that both Martin and Holmes are considered dangerous, and they urge anyone with information to contact local authorities immediately. No additional details have been released about how far the suspects may have traveled since their escape.
