PANAMA CITY, Fla. — Two convicted killers who were freed from prison by phony documents were captured together without incident Saturday night at a motel, authorities said.
Joseph Jenkins and Charles Walker, both 34, were taken into custody about 6:40 p.m. EDT at the Coconut Grove Motor Inn. They were apprehended just a couple of hours after family members held a news conference urging the men to turn themselves in.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement did not immediately release any other details about their capture or investigation.
A woman who answered the phone at the motel said police went straight to room 227 without stopping at the office.
Jenkins and Walker were both serving life sentences at Franklin Correctional Facility in the Panhandle before they were released within the last month. The bogus paperwork, complete with case numbers and a judge’s forged signature, duped prison officials and reduced their sentences to 15 years.
Jenkins was released Sept. 27 and Walker was set free Oct. 8.
Family members and friends of the men said Saturday they initially thought their release was legitimate and spent time with them, planning a birthday party for one and going to church with the other.
Both Jenkins and Walker went to an Orlando jail after their release and registered as felons, as required by law, to maintain the ruse. They filled out paperwork, had their photographs taken and were even fingerprinted.
Henry Pearson, who is Jenkins’ uncle and father figure, said he brought Jenkins clothes when he picked him up from prison last month and drove him to see his mother and grandmother.
Pearson said the family received a call from the prison Sept. 27. Jenkins was being released. Would they like to come and get him or have him put on a bus?
“We took off immediately,” Pearson said.
Pearson planned a birthday party at his home for Jenkins on Oct. 1, but he never showed up. Pearson said he was shocked to learn Wednesday that Jenkins was not supposed to be out of prison.
Pearson said he learned Jenkins was captured on television, and then a law enforcement agent called his home unexpectedly and let Jenkins talk to his wife.
“He just said that he was OK and that he loved us,” Pearson said. “We have a great sense of relief because we did not know how this would end up.”
Walker’s mother, Lillie Danzy, said the family thought their prayers had been answered when she got a call saying Walker was being released. There wasn’t time to pick him up, so he hopped a bus to central Florida.
Walker was at church last Sunday. His mother said they have been cooperating with authorities and made no attempts to hide him.
Before their capture, family members pleaded with the men to turn themselves in.
“We love you. We believe in you. We just want you to surrender yourself to someone you trust who will bring you back here safely. We don’t want any harm to come to you,” Danzy said.
