JENNINGS, Mo. – A man who escaped from the Jennings Correctional Facility on Sunday afternoon is back in custody, and he along with the person accused of helping him are facing charges.
Allen Williams, 28, is charged with escape from custody while under arrest, a felony, and third-degree assault. Ronnae Rhines, 25, is charged with hindering the prosecution of a felony.
St. Louis County police reported that Williams escaped around 2 p.m. from the correctional facility located on the 5400 block of Jennings Station Road. Authorities confirmed to First Alert 4 that Williams was back in custody just after 8 p.m. on Sunday.
Candice Vandevener, who lives nearby, was startled when she learned that a man had escaped custody at the Jennings police precinct. She feels reassured now that the authorities have apprehended him.
“I’m not worried. I’m not worried about nothing,” said Candice Vandevener.
According to St. Louis County police, Williams called Rhines, the mother of his child, from inside the precinct on Sunday. He told her to come and get him because he was planning to escape.
Court documents state that he hid in a closet, then fought with a correctional officer, stole her key card, and used it to exit the building before jumping into Rhines’ vehicle.
Williams was arrested later at Rhines’ home. Both individuals are facing felony charges.
“That’s kind of bold. You know, real bold,” said Vandevener.
Jennings City Councilman Terry Wilson clarified that although the Jennings police precinct is run by the St. Louis County Police Department, the City of Jennings operates a jail inside for federal inmates. Wilson added that Williams was being held federally at the time of the escape.
Williams’ arrest warrant shows that he was on a federal hold.
Williams had been convicted of a federal drug charge in 2020 and was still on supervised release. It remains unclear why he was in custody.
Efforts to reach Jennings Mayor Gary Johnson and the corrections director for comment have gone unanswered.
Councilman Allan Stichnote, who also responded to inquiries, stated that while Mayor Johnson manages day-to-day operations, the council may never learn the details of how Williams managed to escape.
“I don’t know if we’ll ever hear anything, to be honest with you, the way things are going, if you know what I mean,” said Stichnote.
In 2012, a woman also escaped from the same facility. Police later found her in the surrounding area. The corrections officer involved suffered soreness in her neck and back, along with swollen fingers.
Rhines is being held on a $50,000 cash-only bond, while Williams is being held without bond.
Also Read:
- A Texas man is convicted after admitting he mutilated victims and ate a human heart as part of ‘ritualistic sacrifices.’
- California Authorities Arrest Undocumented Chinese Immigrant on Suspicion of Smuggling Millions of Dollars Worth of Weapons and Tech to North Korea
