Escaped inmates caught in Meridian

MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) – Two inmates who escaped the Central Mississippi Correctional facility have been apprehended in Meridian.

Lauderdale County Sheriff Billy Sollie confirmed to Newscenter 11 that 31-year-old Jonathan Blankenship and 28-year-old Christopher Benson High were caught Wednesday morning at two separate locations.

Jonathan Blankenship

Christopher HighOne inmate was caught at 17th Avenue and 11th Street. The other was caught off 18th Avenue near Sowashee Creek.

Blankenship was serving five years for aggravated assault on a police officer and conspiracy to commit a crime in Alcorn County.

High was serving 2 years for burglary larceny of an unoccupied dwelling in Carroll County.

Two other people, a man and a woman, were also taken into custody during the search, but Lauderdale County officials say they aren’t sure if they are connected to the escaped inmates.

The Mississippi Department of Corrections says the manner in which the two were able to escape is still under investigation. Because of the active investigation and search, the agency is not discussing how the escape occurred.

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