Inmate escapes from Dunklin County, Mo., jail

KENNETT, Mo. -- Law enforcement officials are searching for a Dunklin County inmate who escaped from custody at about 1 a.m., today.

According to Dunklin County Sheriff Bob Holder, at approximately 12:40 a.m., Friday, Lavon Junior Whitaker Jr., 25, assaulted a corrections officer and fled on foot while leaving Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett, where he had just received medical treatment.

Holder said Whitaker was handcuffed and was wearing a black and white jail uniform at the time of his escape.

Whitaker, who is of the Kennett and Hayti, Mo., area, is described as a black male approximately five feet nine inches tall.

According to Dunklin County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jonce Chidister, Whitaker is a dangerous, repeat offender who had been charged on March 27 with assault in the first degree, a class B felony; armed criminal action, an unclassified felony charge; and endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree, a class C felony.

Chidister said Whitaker received the charges of assault and armed criminal action after he was arrested by Kennett police for allegedly physically assaulting his former girlfriend, the mother of his children, with a broken table leg.

Whitaker was also accused of angrily, physically shaking one of his children, which brought on the additional charge of child endangerment.

Court records indicate that Whitaker has been convicted of similar crimes twice in his past.

In both 2003 and again in 2005, Whitaker was convicted in New Madrid County of assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

Details regarding those charges were not accessible at press time.

The Dunklin County Sheriff's Department, with cooperation from other law enforcement officials, is actively searching for Whitaker, who will face additional charges relating to his escape once he is apprehended.

According to Holder, authorities are contacting family and friends of Whitaker who might be able to shed some light on the case and help investigators locate the escapee.

Whitaker was originally being held on a $75,000 cash only bond, though that may change once he is caught and new charges are filed.

Before his escape, records showed that he was to be represented in court for the March 27 charges by public defender Rebecca D. Burke in a preliminary hearing scheduled to take place Tuesday before judge John C. Spielman.

Anyone with information regarding Whitaker is encouraged to contact the Dunklin County Sheriff's office at 573-888-2424 or the Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney's office at 573-888-6676.