Convicted Memphis Murderer Who Escaped Mississippi Prison Captured After 24-Hour Manhunt

In a dramatic turn of events, Drew Johnson, a convicted murderer, who managed to escape from the South Mississippi Correctional Institution on Christmas Eve, was apprehended nearly 24 hours later.

Johnson, a 33-year-old inmate serving a life sentence for the 2016 murder of a Memphis resident, had eluded authorities for a brief period before being captured in an area near the prison where he had escaped. The Mississippi Department of Corrections confirmed his escape on December 24th, and his recapture occurred on December 25th, marking a short but intense manhunt.

The Crimes That Led to Johnson’s Imprisonment

Drew Johnson’s criminal history is marked by a series of violent offenses that culminated in his life sentence. In 2022, Johnson pled guilty to a brutal murder that took place in Memphis in 2016. Along with the murder charge, Johnson also pled guilty to the attempted first-degree murder of a former fellow inmate, Cordo Ragland.

The latter crime occurred in 2021 when Johnson attacked Ragland, severely beating him with a block of concrete. This violent assault left Ragland with serious and permanent injuries. Ragland, who had been incarcerated due to a drag racing crash that led to the death of a woman, was the victim of the attack at the hands of Johnson.

The case against Ragland was dismissed after it was determined that he was deemed incompetent to stand trial because of the brain damage he had sustained from the beating.

Johnson’s life sentence was the result of his plea to the 2016 Memphis murder, and he had been serving time for this crime, along with the pending charges from Mississippi, at the South Mississippi Correctional Institution in Greene County. It was at this facility that Johnson managed to escape, sparking a major search by local law enforcement agencies.

The Escape: Details Still Unclear

The details surrounding Johnson’s escape remain unclear. According to the Mississippi Department of Corrections, Johnson managed to flee the prison on Christmas Eve around 3:30 p.m. The exact method of his escape has yet to be revealed, leaving authorities to piece together how he managed to evade capture for nearly a full day.

As the hours passed and the search continued, law enforcement worked relentlessly to track down Johnson, fearing that his violent history could make him a serious threat to public safety.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his escape, authorities were able to locate Johnson on Christmas Day. He was found in a nearby area, and the authorities moved quickly to detain him without further incident.

Johnson’s recapture brought a sigh of relief to local communities who had feared the potential danger posed by the escape of such a violent individual. However, it remains to be seen if Johnson will face additional charges for his escape from the correctional facility.

The Aftermath: Ragland’s Life and the Impact of the Beating

The story of Drew Johnson is inextricably tied to the suffering of Cordo Ragland, the victim of his brutal assault in 2021. Ragland had been incarcerated at the time for a separate incident, a fatal drag racing crash that led to the death of a woman.

However, the legal proceedings in his case were complicated by the serious brain injuries he sustained from the beating. These injuries left Ragland unable to stand trial for the charges related to the crash, and a judge ruled that he was incompetent to do so due to the permanent damage to his cognitive functions.

In the aftermath of the attack, Ragland’s family pursued legal action against the county, suing for the damages caused by the beating. However, a jury ruled that the county was not responsible for the injuries Ragland had suffered. Despite this legal setback, Ragland’s family and supporters have continued to advocate for him and his well-being, as he remains significantly impacted by the attack.

Recently, Ragland had been released from custody after holds related to other cases from Little Rock and Hopkins County, Texas, were removed. His release, coming just a month before Johnson’s escape, added a layer of complexity to the case, as it highlighted the lasting consequences of Johnson’s violent actions on another individual’s life.

Legal and Future Implications for Johnson

As Drew Johnson now faces the possibility of additional charges for his escape, it remains unclear how this incident will affect his existing sentence.

The Mississippi Department of Corrections has not yet confirmed whether Johnson will face further legal action for the escape itself. Given the severity of his crimes and the nature of his conviction, it is likely that any additional charges will lead to a lengthier prison sentence, adding to the decades he has already been sentenced to serve.

This incident also raises questions about the security measures in place at the South Mississippi Correctional Institution and other facilities that house dangerous criminals like Johnson. While the authorities acted swiftly to capture him, the breach in security exposes potential vulnerabilities in the prison system that may require closer scrutiny and reform.

As the investigation into Johnson’s escape continues, the story serves as a stark reminder of the risks posed by individuals with violent histories and the ongoing efforts required by law enforcement to maintain public safety.

The rapid recapture of Drew Johnson brought some closure to this chapter, but it leaves open questions about the broader implications of such high-profile escapes.