Three inmates remain at large from Cook Co. jail

CHICAGO -- A midnight breakout from the Cook County Jail sparked a manhunt for six dangerous fugitives Sunday and raised questions about a shortage of guards at the 10,000-inmate jail.

The inmates overpowered guards and escaped from a special unit for the most incorrigible inmates.

Two of the men were apprehended roughly six hours later in a nearby suburb, and a third was captured late Sunday on the city's South Side. Authorities said murder charges are pending against one of the three men who remained at large.

CHICAGO -- Six inmates, including two who are charged with murder, escaped from the Cook County Jail during the night by taking advantage of short staffing.

Two of the six escapees were captured about seven miles away in suburban Oak Park early Sunday morning, authorities said. Four remained at large Sunday.

Authorities identified the escapees who were still on the lam Sunday as Franciso Romero, 23, of Chicago; Eric Bernard, 22, of Chicago; Michael McIntosh, 30, of Chicago; and Tyrone Everhart, 28, of Markham.

Earlier Sunday, officials said Everhart had been recaptured in suburban Burr Ridge. But Sheahan said authorities later realized that the man Burr Ridge police had in custody was misidentified as Everhart.

The two inmates who were caught Sunday morning in Oak Park were identified as Arnold Joyner, 43, of Chicago, charged with theft and battery and David Earnest, 38, charged with murder.

Tyrone Everhart, 28, of Markham, who is charged with aggravated kidnapping and attempted

The escape was the second jail break since Friday and third since June. Authorities arrested inmate Warren Mathis Saturday at a suburban motel after he escaped from the jail Friday after apparently slipping into a laundry truck. Mathis, who did not resist arrest, was taken back to the jail where he had been held since Aug. 29 on armed robbery charges and a violation of parole terms.

In June, accused bank robber Randy Rencher escaped from the jail while delivering meals to other inmates. He was in custody facing drug and weapons charges, plus charges of attempted criminal sexual assault and home invasion. He turned himself in to authorities in November.

Also earlier this month, three inmates received minor injuries in a shooting at the jail. Authorities have said that a 21-year-old woman, who was reportedly the girlfriend of one of the inmates, smuggled a gun into the jail and slipped it through a plexiglass divider.