After months of searching, authorities have finally apprehended Jeriod Price, a convicted murderer who was released from a South Carolina prison under mysterious circumstances. The manhunt for Price lasted over two months, with the reward for his capture reaching $60,000. Finally, investigators received a tip that Price was in New York, leading to his arrest at an apartment in the Bronx.
Price, who had served only 19 years of a 35-year prison sentence for a 2002 murder, was released in March under a secret order signed by a retiring judge. The circumstances surrounding his release raised eyebrows and prompted intense scrutiny from law enforcement agencies and top officials in South Carolina. The State Supreme Court ultimately overturned the order, turning Price into a fugitive when he failed to turn himself in.
Price’s lawyer, Todd Rutherford, argued that the judge’s order was justified because Price had provided crucial help to prison officials, protecting corrections officers from attacks and alerting them to an inmate’s escape. Rutherford claimed that the secrecy of the order was meant to protect Price from those seeking to harm him, rather than to hide a dubious judicial process.
While Price will remain in New York until he appears before a federal judge, corrections officials have promised to provide him with additional protection once he is back in South Carolina. The controversy surrounding Price’s release has prompted reviews of the early release process for inmates and calls to overhaul the process of selecting judges in South Carolina.
Despite the controversy, the arrest of Price has brought relief to the family of his victim, Carl Smalls Jr. The family had been caught off guard by Price’s release, and there was no indication that an early release was possible. The larger conversation around Price’s release and the judicial system will continue, with South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson emphasizing the need for a transparent system that people can have faith in.
In the end, Price’s capture brings closure to the Smalls family and ensures that he will be returning to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence.
What factors contributed to the mysterious release of Jeriod Price from a South Carolina prison?
Authorities have finally caught Jeriod Price, a convicted murderer who was mysteriously released from a South Carolina prison. After an intense two-month manhunt and a $60,000 reward, investigators received a tip that led to Price’s arrest in an apartment in the Bronx, New York.
Price, who had served just 19 years of a 35-year sentence for a 2002 murder, was released in March under a secretive order signed by a retiring judge. This raised suspicions and triggered scrutiny from law enforcement agencies and top officials in South Carolina. The State Supreme Court eventually overturned the order when Price failed to turn himself in, turning him into a fugitive.
Price’s lawyer, Todd Rutherford, argued that the judge’s order was justified because Price had provided crucial assistance to prison officials, protecting them from attacks and alerting them to an inmate’s escape. Rutherford claimed that the secrecy was to keep Price safe from potential harm, rather than to hide a questionable legal process.
While Price will remain in New York until he appears before a federal judge, corrections officials have promised to provide him with extra protection once he returns to South Carolina. The controversy surrounding his release has sparked reviews of the early release process for inmates and calls to reform the system of selecting judges in the state.
Despite the controversy, Price’s arrest has brought relief to the family of his victim, Carl Smalls Jr. The family was shocked by Price’s release, as there was no indication that early release was a possibility. The broader conversation about Price’s release and the justice system in South Carolina will continue, with Attorney General Alan Wilson highlighting the need for a transparent system that inspires public trust.
Ultimately, Price’s capture brings closure to the Smalls family and ensures that he will return to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence.
This headline is a stark reminder of the flaws within our justice system. It’s alarming to see a wrongfully released murderer on the loose, but I’m relieved that they have been apprehended. This case underscores the urgent need for stricter protocols and accountability to ensure public safety.