Law enforcement catches escapee from Juvenile Justice Center being held for homicide
Ryan Shiner
BOONE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Law enforcement searched and found a pair of escapees from the Juvenile Justice Center in the Prathersville area in northern Boone County on Friday night.
Boone County Joint Communications received a report around 7:15 p.m. that two 16-year-old boys had escaped from the center, according to a news release. Initial information said the youths were being detained for charges of first-degree assault and murder.
Law enforcement was searching the area as early as 7:30 p.m.
Multiple law enforcement vehicles were in the 1500 block of East Prathersville Road. An ambulance was also seen in the area. Drones were deployed and a K-9 unit was on the scene.
More than 30 law enforcement officers from the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, Columbia Police Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol assisted in locating the juveniles, the release says. A drone provided by the Boone County Fire Protection District and a helicopter provided by the Missouri State Highway Patrol searched wooded areas and fields.
The first youth was caught at 7:50 p.m. Shortly before 10:30 pm, the second youth — who was being held in relation to a homicide — was located by aircraft in a heavily wooded area southwest of Tower Drive and North Prairie Drive. He was detained at 10:35 p.m.
Both boys were released back into the custody of the juvenile authorities. The release states their identities will not be released and no additional information will be provided due to the age of the suspects.