NEWS 25 - WEHT: Evansville, Henderson, Owensboro-Victim of Webster County Escapees Talks to NEWS 25

Victim of Webster County Escapees Talks to NEWS 25

story by Courtney Gousman

DIXON, KY - Kentucky State Police say the two men who escaped last night from Webster County Jail, managed to get past a fence, and stole a teen's car.

NEWS 25 talked to the victim in Wednesday night's jail escape, as well as county leaders about the whole ordeal.

We learned some security changes maybe on the way.

Webster County leaders tell NEWS 25 part of the jail has minimal security and it might be time to make some changes.  

Nineteen year-old Megan Ferguson got a big surprise last night after a visit with her boyfriend, who lives in Dixon, KY. She walked outside and discovered her car was gone.

"I thought someone was playing a trick on me," says Ferguson.

Ferguson tells NEWS 25 it was about 9:00 p.m. when she realized her car was stolen.

She called police and learned two inmates-- Jackie Beasley and Brian Schwartz walked out of the Webster County jail about an hour earlier.

"I was freaking out. Crying," says Ferguson.

Ferguson says KSP called about 1:30 Thursday morning told her that her car and the inmates had been found in Marion, KY.

"The inmates had actually told police that I gave them the keys which was not true at all," says Ferguson.

Today Ferguson picked up her car and showed NEWS 25 a few souvenirs the escapees left behind--- cigarettes, a hat, gloves, and a jacket.

NEWS 25 discovered this is the fourth escape from Webster County's jail in five years. A total of seven inmates have walked away.

Jailer Terry Elder was not available for comment, but Webster County Judge Executive Jim Townsend tells NEWS 25, all but one inmate walked way from the jail's Restricted Custody Center.    

NEWS 25 asked Townsend, “Does this concern you?"

Townsend said, “Really it doesn't because these are not hardened criminals.”   

Townsend tells NEWS 25 most of the inmates assigned here have at least six months to serve. They are on work release during the day.

"They are in for lighter felony charges," says Townsend.  

NEWS 25 learned at night this building is not locked down.

 Townsend says he plans to talk to the jailer about making security changes.

"I'll think twice before I leave my keys in my car again," says Ferguson.

Ferguson tells NEWS 25, police informed her the inmates were heading to Crittenden County because one of them had family there.