Escaped Inmates Have Connections

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - It's been one week since inmates Keshun Douglas and Mario Jackson walked away from the Med within 24 hours of one another.

"We picked up the case last week after we were notified the escapes had occurred," said Special Deputy U.S. Marshal, Tony Townsend.

Douglas who was there for lab work, skipped out first while the van he was in was pulling up to the hospital. Several hours later, Jackson was in the ER and ran out of an emergency exit after going into the bathroom.

"We don't have anything at this time to put the two of them together and at this time don't have any reason to believe they're together now."

But the U.S. Marshals Service said while trying to find the two fugitives, they've learned the 23-year-old inmates do share some things in common.

"We know they've at least had a relationship with the same transgendered person. In broad terms, they run in the same circles," Townsend said.

And that's not all. The Marshals said both served time at the Corrections Center at the same time and during phone calls to family members, talked about escaping. Just how they each pulled it off is still being investigated. The two Sheriff's Office Deputy Jailers watching Jackson, who was being held at 201 Poplar for trial, remain on administrative leave.

"We've not only been getting statements from them, we've looked at some security camera footage supplied by the Med," said Steve Shular.

A Shelby County Spokesperson for the Corrections Center where Douglas was a ward said they are investigating all possibilities.

As for the person the Marshals said Douglas and Jackson both had a relationship, they said they'd like to talk to them to see if they have any helpful information that could lead to their capture. The Marshals are working with the Sheriff's Office and investigators with the Corrections Center on this case.

Douglas was serving time for theft. Jackson is charged with several crimes including aggravated kidnapping and robbery.