On the Run: Georgia Inmate Escape Sparks Manhunt for Murder Suspect

 



In Georgia, three out of the four inmates who escaped from Bibb County Jail are now in custody, leaving the most serious offender, Joey Fournier, still at large, facing murder charges. 

Johnifer Dernard Barnwell was apprehended by the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office gang unit and FBI SWAT team at a residence in Augusta, over 120 miles from the jail, recovering significant quantities of drugs related to a federal trafficking case.

Despite the arrests, 52-year-old Joey Fournier, accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend Cynthia Berry, remains elusive. 

The escape, which occurred on October 16, involved Fournier, Barnwell, Chavis Demaryo Stokes, and Marc Kerry Anderson breaking out through a damaged window, cutting a fence, and fleeing in a blue Dodge Challenger. Stokes and Anderson were captured earlier by law enforcement, facing charges ranging from firearm possession to aggravated assault.


The manhunt for the escapees also led to the discovery of Christian Williams, a wanted murderer who died by suicide as U.S. Marshals closed in on October 23. 

Williams, accused of shooting and killing Greg Lamar Watkins Jr., had disappeared on March 5, hours before his trial. Authorities revealed footage suggesting his kidnapping, raising questions about the authenticity of his disappearance. While not one of the escapees, Williams had connections to their activities.

Bibb County Sheriff David Davis emphasized that Williams was not part of the escapees but had knowledge of their whereabouts and the escape. 

The search for Fournier is ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI's tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or the USMS at 1-877-WANTED2. Tips can also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov or through the USMS Tips App.

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