A shocking incident occurred at the Clayton County Jail in Jonesboro, Georgia, when a murder convict vanished, prompting authorities to lock down the facility.
According to Clayton County Sheriff Levon Allen, jail staff were in a state of alarm as they couldn’t establish the whereabouts of Julian Brooks Delock. After an extensive search, it was revealed that he had mistakenly been placed in a court holding cell.
Delock was missing for nearly 12 hours due to confusion among staff regarding who was responsible for returning him to the jail. This left him in the courthouse longer than anticipated.
The holding cell is secure and connected to the jail, but it’s not equipped for overnight stays. It contains only benches, sinks, and toilets, lacking proper bedding, and was supposed to be cleared by 6 PM after court activities.
Guards apparently did not check the holding cells, assuming that inmates wouldn’t be left there overnight. They searched “every cell phone, every cell in the prison,” for Delock.
“Ultimately, we reviewed the cameras and traced him back to the court where he was,” Sheriff Allen explained.
Delock reportedly spent about 12 to 13 hours in the holding cells before being located the following morning.
In light of the incident, Sheriff Allen has suggested that the two deputies on duty at the court face suspension, while two correctional sergeants may be demoted.
Julian Brooks Delock was convicted of murder in 1984.
