Escapee from Dunklin County jail located and arrested

KENNETT, Mo. -- Dunklin County authorities, under the direction of Sheriff Bob Holder, located and apprehended an alleged rapist and felony offender who recently escaped custody from the Dunklin County Justice Center, according to the Daily American Republic. About 1 p.m. Wednesday, escapee Dewey Odell Hopper, Jr., 42, was brought back to the same place he escaped about 9 p.m. Saturday. Officers with the sheriff's department carefully choreographed Hopper's return to the justice center, as they led him handcuffed through a back door to the jail that was guarded by county authorities. Hopper was found at a home in nearby Cardwell, Mo. He was arrested without incident. Hopper was originally being held on charges of forcible rape and tampering with judicial proceedings. He is also a parole absconder from Arkansas, according to Holder. He will face additional charges for the escape. Past offenses in Missouri and Arkansas include assault, burglary, weapons violations, sex offenses and arson.

Matt Sanders contributed to this report.