A dramatic multistate manhunt ended in Broward County this week with the capture of Stevenson Charles, a federal inmate serving a life sentence who escaped from a Georgia jail and allegedly kidnapped a rideshare driver during his flight south.
Charles, 24, had been in custody for kidnapping and carjacking before being transferred to the DeKalb County Jail to face trial in a separate 2022 murder case. Authorities discovered his escape during a routine check and later learned two other inmates—Yusuf Minor and Naod Yohannes—had also fled.
Investigators say the trio summoned a rideshare vehicle, restrained the driver, and threatened the victim’s life while forcing them to drive hundreds of miles toward Florida. The vehicle was eventually spotted in South Florida with Charles behind the wheel.
After a high-speed pursuit and brief foot chase, law enforcement apprehended Charles and recovered a discarded firearm. Minor and Yohannes were arrested later that night.
Federal officials praised the coordinated effort among U.S. Marshals, the FBI, and local police departments across multiple states. All three suspects now face additional federal kidnapping charges and have begun making court appearances in South Florida.
Harlan Kilstein has been a Boca Resident since 1997. He know the ins and out of Boca
