LEFLORE COUNTY (KFSM) -- An inmate that escaped from the LeFlore County Detention Center was recaptured at about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday (July 26).
Investigators said inmate Joseph Woodard was behind bars on several theft charges and awaiting a prison sentence when he escaped.
"He was taking out trash out behind the kitchen and climbed over the fence, through the barbed wire and took off," said Leflore County Sheriff Rob Seale.
Investigators said they pinged his girlfriend's cell phone and found him at a Poteau home on Myra Lane. They believe his girlfriend, Kairisa Akers, helped him plan the escape on a jail phone the night before. She is now in custody.
Another man, Paul Ford, is also behind bars on aiding and abetting charges. Investigators say Ford owned the Poteau home and had originally told them he was not there.
The Leflore County Jail Administrator said the fence Woodard escaped from will be raised another five feet.
The Sheriff said Woodard had been in jail before and was a trustee. This time, the Sheriff said he should not have been on a trustee list since he was known to evade police.