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Last updated on Wednesday, October 21, 2015
(INDIANAPOLIS) - A Marion County Jail inmate who had escaped Thursday by using the identity of another inmate was found and caught Monday evening.
34-year-old Jessica Stringer escaped from jail-book out after having the arm band and personal information of another inmate who looked like her.
She was caught near Lynhurst Drive and Melrose Street, on the southwest side of Indianapolis.
Stringer was initially arrested on September 7, 2015. Her charges included possession of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a syringe, false informing, and possession of paraphernalia. Stringer's charges now include escape, identity deception and forgery.
"Given the drug crisis that is gripping our community, the task of finding Stringer was like looking for a needle in a haystack," Sheriff John Layton said. "Sadly, the underground world of drug addiction is tight-lipped. Their only focus is upon their next high. Fortunately, our Deputies were able to methodically investigate and solve this matter."
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Stringer said her former cell mate helped her escape by exchanging the arm bands and information voluntarily. The cell mate was set to be released.
To help these kinds of incidents not happen in the future, the jail now has a Positive Identification Device Unit to check the thumbprints of inmates as they're released.
The Marion County Jail will continue its investigation into the escape, and determine if more charges will be filed against Stringer's former cell mate.
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