Manhunt Underway After Suspected Murderer Is ‘Mistakenly Released’ From Indiana Jail

Declan Gallagher
·2 min read

There’s a new prison escapee on the loose, but this one didn’t get free by doing a crab-walk. Instead, jail officials simply let him go.

Last week, suspected murderer Kevin Mason was "mistakenly released" from Indianapolis’ Marion County Jail “due to a faulty records review” by staff. He was arrested on September 11 after being sought on three warrants, one of which asked he be held in custody in connection with a fatal 2021 shooting in Minneapolis. The other two were related to possession of a firearm, and a parole violation.

Mason was freed on September 13 and has been missing ever since. The accidental release occurred when an inmate records clerk with the Marion County Sheriff's Department removed two holds in Mason’s file, for some reason thinking she had created duplicate bookings for the inmate.

Last Wednesday, another clerk in Minnesota lifted the final hold on Mason’s file without noticing the previous errors. “That clerk, and two other clerks, were then charged with reviewing all of the booking information and then did not catch the error made the day before,” said sheriff’s Col. James Martin in a statement to press on Tuesday. So far, two of the records clerks have been terminated from their positions.

The error was apparently discovered “shortly after” the release, with a “round-the-clock” manhunt underway since. The U.S. Marshals, who assisted in the hunt for Pennsylvania prison escapee Danilo Cavalcante, are aiding local authorities in their search. According to Martin, the reason officials waited nearly a week before informing the public was to maintain a “tactical advantage” over Mason.

However, they now believe the suspect has fled Central Indiana and “obviously” has a network of people assisting him. MCSD is now asking the public for any help that could lead to Mason’s recapture. “We do not have any information that leads us to believe that the public is in any immediate danger at this time,” Martin said, while warning civilians to “not approach Mr. Mason in any form or fashion.”

Mason reportedly weighs 205 pounds and stands at 5’9”. He has a cross tattoo under his right eye, as well as an unidentified neck tattoo and another reading “SUB” across his chest. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers, or their local law enforcement.