Offender Escapes From Iowa State Prison in Fort Madison

Justin Kester. Photo from the Iowa Department of Corrections

Justin Kester. Photo from the Iowa Department of Corrections

An Iowa State Prison Inmate who escaped from the facility in Fort Madison has been captured, according to Department of Corrections Authorities.

DOC spokesperson Fred Scaletta says that 25 year old Justin Kestner was captured by Illinois State Police Troopers just south of Geneseo, Illinois just before 10:00 am. A press release from Illinois State Police say that Henry County, Illinois Sheriff’s deputies located a vehicle, that they believe was stolen by Kestner, abandoned at the side of a road. A State Police Trooper discovered Kestner walking on Illinois Route 82, south of Interstate 80.

Kestner apparently ran from the Trooper through a corn field before being taken into custody.

He had last been seen at 1:30am during count. He was discovered missing at 4:45am.

Police knocked on the doors of homes surrounding the prison, warning residents that Kestner was at large.

Kestner is serving a 10 year prison sentence stemming from a 2009 theft charge out of Woodbury County in which he robbed a convenience store.