Suspected MN Killer Mistakenly Released Is Arrested In St. Paul

MINNESOTA — The Minneapolis murder suspect mistakenly released from jail in Indiana earlier this month was arrested Wednesday in St. Paul, according to authorities.

Kevin Mason, 28, was arrested by the United States Marshal Service around 1 p.m.

"I would like to extend my sincere gratitude and congratulations to the USMS for concluding this manhunt and safely bringing Mason back into custody," Marion County Sheriff Kerry J. Forestal said in a statement.

"Our federal partners have kept us informed throughout the entire process. We are truly thankful for their assistance and wide resources, most specifically, their task force partnerships with local law enforcement agencies that have allowed them to pursue Kevin Mason throughout the country."

After two years of being on the run, Mason was arrested on Sept. 11 in Indianapolis on a homicide and two other warrants out of Minnesota. He is suspected in the June 2021 fatal shooting of Dontevius Catchings outside a memorial service at the Shiloh Temple in Minneapolis.

Mason was mistakenly released from the Indianapolis jail just two days later.

"This was an error. This should not have happened. Mason should not have been released from our custody," Marion County Col. James Martin said in a news conference last week.

Two Marion County inmate records clerks involved in the error were since fired, authorities said.

Mason's girlfriend, identified as Desiree Oliver, is suspected of helping Mason flee and was arrested Wednesday afternoon. The county waited six days to alert the public about Mason's release while they tracked his girlfriend.

Mason's mistaken release occurred just weeks after convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante escaped from Chester County Prison.

Cavalcante eluded law enforcement for 13 days until a combination of drones, dogs, and some 500 officers found him in the woods outside Pennsylvania's South Coventry Township.

He escaped from Chester County prison by "crabwalking" up a wall to the roof and somehow making his way through a razor-wire fence. Read more.