Around 12:45 p.m. Friday, the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) contacted the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office to report blood and clothing found on an exterior fence, indicating a possible escape.

MDOC immediately began an emergency headcount to verify the situation.

Rankin County deputies, along with officers from the Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP), Madison Police Department (PD), Brandon PD, and Pearl PD, assisted MDOC in establishing a perimeter and conducting a search. Rankin County canine units and Madison PD’s drone unit also joined the effort.

During the manhunt, a citizen reported seeing a suspicious male wearing only a sheet in her neighborhood. Officers quickly responded, deploying Rankin County K9 “Voodoo” to track the suspect. Within approximately two minutes, Voodoo successfully tracked and located the escapee in a lake near the subdivision.

The escapee was taken into custody by MDOC.

The Rankin County Sheriff’s Office thanked everyone involved, especially Deputy Shack and his K9 partner Voodoo, for their hard work and dedication.