U.S. Marshals Take Over Manhunt For Suspected Minneapolis Killer

The United States Marshals Services has taken over the search for Kevin Mason, the 28-year-old Minneapolis murder suspect who was mistakenly released from an Indianapolis jail last week.

The takeover was announced Friday after investigators determined that Mason left Indianapolis on the evening of Sept. 13, the same day he was let go due to a faulty records review by civilian staff.

"As a former U.S. Marshal, I have a personal understanding of the far-reaching tools our federal partners have," said Marion County Sheriff Kerry J. Forestal.

"With 56 regional task forces and their capture of nearly 76,000 fugitives in 2022, I am fully confident they will locate Kevin Mason and bring him into custody."

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 Tuesday.

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.

If spotted, call 911 immediately but do not take any action yourself, the sheriff's office said.

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.