IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A review has uncovered numerous “policy and procedural errors” that allowed a dangerous inmate to escape from an Iowa prison for hours without detection.
Iowa State Penitentiary warden Nick Ludwick released a summary Monday of his investigation into Justin Kestner’s July 4 escape from the Fort Madison prison.
Kestner told investigators he removed screws on his shower to access a pipe chase adjacent to his cell. He crawled up through that space and into the attic, and got onto the roof through a vent. He then climbed down along a downspout.
Kestner claimed he had made several practice runs and timed his escape during July 4 fireworks, hoping that tower guards would be distracted. He was discovered missing at 4:45 a.m. July 5, and was captured in Illinois hours later.
