Skylar Meade and Nicholas Umphenour, two high-risk inmates, were recaptured after a daring escape and a violent manhunt that left three officers injured and unearthed connections to two homicides.
Skylar Meade and Nicholas Umphenour, two inmates in Idaho, were involved in a high-profile escape and subsequent recapture this week. Meade, 31, serving a 20-year sentence for shooting a sheriff, and Umphenour, whose past includes a charge of aggravated battery against law enforcement, orchestrated their escape from a medical center, leaving three correctional officers shot and wounded. Meade, a member of the Aryan Knights, a white supremacist gang, along with Umphenour, violently fled the scene, initiating a manhunt.
The escape led to a major law enforcement operation across Idaho, culminating in their capture without incident in the Twin Falls area, as confirmed by Police Chief Ron Winegar. The investigation into their brief period of freedom has uncovered a connection to two separate homicides, with detectives actively working to piece together these incidents. At one of the crime scenes, shackles were discovered, suggesting a link to the escape.
The recapture of Meade and Umphenour highlights the intricate coordination among law enforcement agencies to address public safety concerns and manage high-risk prisoners. The Idaho Department of Corrections has praised the collaborative efforts made towards the swift resolution of this case. The incident has also raised questions about prison security measures, given the nature of the escape and the subsequent violent acts.
