Half of Escaped Guatemalan Inmates Recaptured

Ten of the twenty inmates who escaped from Guatemala’s Fraijanes II maximum-security prison have now been recaptured, but the manhunt continues for the remaining fugitives. The escape, which astonishingly unfolded over the past two months, was only made public this past Sunday, October twelfth. Guatemala’s Interior Minister, Francisco Jiménez, revealed that authorities had been chasing down “rumors” of escapes for weeks. It’s believed that some inmates may have slipped out during routine prison visits, an alarming breach in security at one of the country’s most fortified facilities. Among those rearrested is Byron Fajardo Revolorio, infamously known as “Black Demon,” who was serving a staggering one-hundred-and-eighty-year sentence. His capture is a major win for law enforcement, but the search is far from over. Police forces across the region are now coordinating efforts to locate the remaining escapees. And here at home, Belizean authorities are on high alert. Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith says Belize’s proximity to Guatemala makes it a potential crossing point for the fugitives. She’s urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious sightings immediately.