Escaped Murderer Recaptured After 2-Day Search In Mississippi

A convicted murderer who escaped from a Mississippi prison on Christmas Eve has been located and taken back into custody. Drew Johnson, 35, was arrested Wednesday near the South Mississippi Correctional Institution after eluding authorities for two days.

Officials began searching for Johnson immediately after his escape Tuesday afternoon from the Leakesville facility. The Mississippi Department of Corrections described him as “very dangerous,” and law enforcement issued urgent warnings for locals to remain cautious. The timing of the escape during the holiday season heightened concerns, with authorities noting that people often become less vigilant at Christmas.

Johnson’s criminal history is extensive and violent. He was convicted in 2022 for a 2016 murder in Memphis, Tennessee, where he stabbed a man repeatedly before abandoning the body in a field. His record also includes an assault on another inmate in 2021, where he used a brick as a weapon, as well as convictions for setting fires in 2019.

The Leakesville facility, where Johnson was housed, is one of the newest prisons in the state. Authorities have not disclosed the details of how he managed to break out but confirmed additional charges are being prepared.

Johnson also faces a pending murder charge in Rankin County, Mississippi, unrelated to his current convictions.

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