Grandmother Pleas for Missing Inmate to Return

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A manhunt was underway Wednesday for a 23-year-old who escaped from the Shelby County Division of Corrections.

Keshun Douglas was being transported to The Med for lab work when he walked away as the van was being unloaded.

Douglas was serving time for theft of property. In fact, just next week, he was supposed to go before the parole board. Wednesday, his grandmother was hoping he gives himself up and faces his punishment like a man.

The handwritten letter, sent from the Shelby County Division of Corrections, arrived just one day after Douglas called his grandmother to say hello. Wednesday, the phone calls she got were about her grandson.

"My daughter called and told me he was out, and then right after that, a detective called me," Douglas's grandmother, Alice Maris said.

Police were asking if she knew the whereabouts of Douglas, an inmate, serving time for 3 counts of theft of property. Shortly after 8:00 am on Wednesday, he walked away, while being dropped off at The Med, for an appointment with the adult special care clinic for lab work.

"I never expected he would run. I always thought he would be a man and stand up to whatever he has done," said Maris.

It seems Douglas has a pattern of fleeing in the face of punishment. Back in February 2009, the State of Missouri charged Douglas for being a fugitive from justice. Three days later, Douglas was pulled over for speeding. He exited the stolen car, and ran from police. He was eventually caught.

"I've always told him, if you do wrong, wrong will catch up to you," said Maris.

Douglas arrived at the Division of Corrections in January. He was transferred from 201 Poplar. Douglas had a parole hearing scheduled for next week, on July 15th. Now, authorities say that probably won't happen.

"Give yourself up! I'd rather have you alive than dead. I'd rather for him to be in jail than to be dead," pleaded his grandmother.

In the letters sent to her Whitehaven home, Alice Maris said her grandson recently promised he was changing his life of crime, but based on his behavior, she said it was hard to take him seriously.

"I would talk to him about staying out of trouble, and he would say grandma, when I get out this time, I'm going to do right. I'm going to do this, and I'm going to do that," said Maris.

Now, he's done something she never expected, and she's worried about his safety, if he continues to run from authority. She's hoping her emotional plea might make a difference.

"Keshun, wherever you are, give yourself up. You always told me that you love me, so do the right thing and give yourself up."

The Shelby County Division Recovery Squad is actively pursuing Keshun Douglas. There are active warrants for Douglas in Crittenden County, Arkansas and Madison County, Tennessee.

If you have any information about his whereabouts, you're asked to call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH. You could eligible for a reward for up to $1,000.