Iron County Jailer Fired Over Inmate Escape

(Ironton, MO) An Iron County Sheriff's Department jailer is relieved of his duties after not following protocol and allowing an inmate, Riley J. Sherrill, to escape last Friday. A press release from Iron County Sheriff Jeff Burkett details the incident showing Sherrill escaped at 12:27 am. He was let out of his cell and taken to the booking room for fingerprinting and was left unsupervised. Sherrill walked to the side door, unlocked it, and walked out of the jail. As soon as the escape was confirmed multiple agencies were notified including the United States Marshall's Service, The Missouri State Highway Patrol, Wayne County Sheriff's Office, Department of Corrections, as well as local municipalities. During the search for Sherrill he was spotted walking along the railroad tracks near the Glover Junction of Highways 21 and 49. He was taken back into custody by Highway Patrolmen after a foot chase into a wooded area.