In a dramatic turn of events, a murder suspect who had been missing for seven months was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a massive manhunt led by the U.S. Marshals. The suspect, Christian Williams, 23, had disappeared after reportedly being abducted just hours before his court appearance for murder charges. The manhunt also involved the search for four escaped inmates who broke out of Bibbs County Jail.
The law enforcement teams, met with gunfire through a closed apartment door, were forced to blast through the entrance with the support of SWAT teams. They discovered Williams in critical condition and rushed him to the hospital. Williams is suspected of helping the four escaped inmates in their jailbreak.
The inmates, Joey Fournier, Chavis Stokes, Marc K. Anderson, and Johnifer Barnwell, had climbed out of a damaged window in the oldest section of the jail, cut through a fence, and escaped in a blue Dodge Challenger. Although the suspected getaway car was found in a parking lot in Macon, there is still no sign of the fugitives as the search enters its second week.
Investigations are currently underway to determine Williams’s involvement in the escape. His girlfriend, who was present during the incident, has been arrested and charged with felony aiding or permitting another to escape lawful custody or confinement.
As the search for the remaining fugitives continues, the Bibb County Sheriff expressed uncertainty about their whereabouts and whether they are still together.
Prosecutors have released surveillance footage of the moment Williams was last seen. He was wearing an ankle monitor, but the battery had reportedly died. Sheriff Davis had expressed suspicion about the circumstances surrounding Williams’s disappearance in a previous interview, as there had been no phone calls or information regarding his whereabouts.
Law enforcement agencies have offered a combined reward of $73,000 for information leading to the capture of the escaped inmates. The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office has urged anyone with information to come forward and assist in their recapture.
The escape took place when there were fewer than 10 employees working at the jail, which housed around 800 inmates at the time.
Anyone with information on the possible location of the escapees is urged to contact the FBI’s tip line, the USMS, or the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. Tips can also be submitted online or through the USMS Tips App.
This article was written by Chris Eberhart, a crime and US news reporter for FOX News’ Digital platform.
