Menu
Three face charges after recent brief jail escape
CHARLESTON, Mo. — Three Mississippi County Detention Center inmates face additional charges for their involvement in a recent jail escape.
Adam Milburn and Rayshand Lyons face new charges of assault first degree and escape from confinement, both Class A Felonies and disarming an officer, a Class D Felony. Brian Pearson faces a new charge of aiding the escape of a prisoner confined for a felony, which is a Class B Felony. All three remain in the Mississippi County Detention Center on no-bond warrants.
Milburn and Lyons are currently being held at the Mississippi County Detention Center for murder charges out of New Madrid County before the escape. Pearson is being held for probation violation on burglary.
According to Mississippi County Sheriff Britton Ferrell, at 10 p.m. Nov. 29, inmates Milburn and Lyons escaped from the Mississippi County Detention Center after assaulting a corrections officer. At approximately 11:20 p.m. officers apprehended escapees, Milburn and Lyons on Vine Street in Charleston.
According to the sheriff, Milburn and Lyons conspired with inmate Troy Paige Jr. to fabricate a story pretending he needed medical assistance for leg pains while gaining the attention of the corrections officer. In exchange for his help, Milburn and Lyons promised Paige their commissary items, specifically, coffee, if he obtained and supplied a pain pill from the corrections officer. Upon making entry into the pod and cell 101, Milburn violently pushed the corrections officer into a metal bed, causing an open injury to his skull requiring three staples. Lyons repeatedly assaulted the corrections officer while still in cell 101. Milburn and Lyons obtained the taser and the jail keys. Surveillance footage shows Milburn deploying the taser at the corrections officer.
To prevent further injuries, inmate William Henry Applewhite, stepped in to protect the corrections officer. Applewhite confronted Milburn as Lyons shoved the officer back into cell 101. Simultaneously, the sheriff said, the audio recordings convey the corrections officer screaming: “Why are ya'll doing this to me? I've never done anything to ya'll! Why are you doing this?”
Milburn and Lyons fled the pod with the cell keys leaving the taser on the floor. While Milburn and Lyons quickly exited the pod, Applewhite closed the pod door to secure the remaining inmates. Applewhite then picked up the taser and other property of the officer, taking it to the pod door. Applewhite handed the items to the corrections officer who, despite his injuries, came back to the pod and locked down the remaining inmates.
During a further review of the surveillance video, Ferrell said he saw another inmate — Pearson — also involved in the incident. Interviews and jail video revealed Lyons, Pearson and Milburn sitting inside their cell conducting a prayer circle before the escape, the sheriff said.
Ferrell said Pearson requested to have a prayer circle because he knew Milburn and Lyons were going to escape. After a short conversation, the three discussed and confirmed which inmate would knock on the door to get the attention of the corrections officer. Pearson volunteered to knock on the door and told Milburn and Lyons after he knocked on the door, he was going to sit on the phone and not pay attention to what was going on.
Ferrell also commended Charleston DPS, New Madrid County Sheriff’s Office, Scott County Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
“Within 15-20 minutes, we had five different agencies and 30 officers at our facility,” Ferrell said. “Charleston DPS immediately began searching the streets while I met with the other agencies formulated a recovery plan, followed up on leads, and ultimately apprehended the escapees. Because one of the escapees was local, time was of the essence. This was an exceptional effort by all.
Ferrell continued: “My corrections officer should be commended as well. While the incident is unfortunate, the officer handled it the way all our officers are trained to do. Despite his injuries, the officer maintained composure, secured the communications area and locked the pod down.”
Lyons, Milburn and Pearson are scheduled to appear at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday before Judge S. Rob Barker in Mississippi County.