A manhunt is underway for two men serving time for murder who were mistakenly released from state prison. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said Charles Walker and Joseph Jenkins could be in Central Florida.
Officials said the men were released by mistake on two separate days from the Franklin Correctional Institution in Franklin County because of “fraudulent modifications” to court orders with their sentence length.
Orange County Chief Judge Belvin Perry said Thursday the paperwork that came through their office to order the men's release were somehow forged with his signature. How or who is responsible for the forged documents is being investigated.
Both of the fraudulent documents change Walker and Jenkins sentence to 15 years and award them prison credit.
"What we do know is that these two individuals are out. They shouldn’t be and we want to get them back into custody. That’s is our concern. We want to make sure the safety of the community is first and then obviously the follow-up is second," said Capt. Angelo Nieves from the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Jenkins, 34, was in prison for murder, and released by mistake on Sept. 27, the sheriff’s office said. He was sentenced in 2000, according to online inmate records, to serve 15 years each for three different charges: murder, robbery and armed burglary, plus 5 years for grand theft.
Walker, 34, who was convicted of murder in Orange County, according to the sheriff’s office, was released by mistake on Oct. 8. Officials said Walker was sentenced in 2001 to life in prison.
Investigators said both men have ties to Orange County and they believe at least one of them is here.
Charles Walker’s last known address is on Arch Street - that’s near John Young Parkway and Colonial in Orlando. Joseph Jenkins’ last known address is in Apopka on McQueen Road, down a private driveway.
“We believe that they may be in Orange County and that is part of our effort to notify the community," Nieves said. "We’re working with local, state and the Department of Corrections to provide us any information they have, which they’ve done so and we continue to look to see where these individuals may be.”
The sheriff’s office said they were notified of the escaped inmates by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Tuesday.
Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Michael Crews released the following statement about how the prisoners were released:
“The Department of Corrections is working closely with Sheriff Demings, state and local law enforcement to locate inmates Charles Walker and Joseph Jenkins and return them to custody as soon as possible. Inmates Walker and Joseph were both released in accordance with Department of Corrections policy and procedure; however, their releases were based on fraudulent modifications that had been made to the court orders that determines their length of sentence.
In addition to participating in the search, the Department is conducting a vigorous and thorough review of releases that were based on modified court orders received from Orange County to ensure that there are no other inmates who have been released based on falsified documents. The top priority of the Department is the safety of Florida families and we’ll continue working with law enforcement to ensure these men are returned to custody."
While visiting Osceola County Thursday, Gov. Rick Scott hinted that there would be an inquiry into how Walker and Jenkins were released. However, he said first the state needed to focus on finding the men.
Anyone with information about where the two men might be is asked to call Crimeline at (800) 423-TIPS.