Cops Searching For Convicted Rapist & Child Molester Accidentally Released From Prison 'In Error'

Police and prison officials in southeast Georgia are frantically searching for a convicted rapist and child molester who was released from prison last week “in error.”

The man, inmate Tony Maycon Munoz-Mendez, was accidentally released from Rogers State Prison just outside of the small city of Reidsville, Georgia at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, October 25, according to authorities. Reidsville is in the far southeastern corner of the state, about 60 miles west of the city of Savannah; the prison itself sits about seven miles south of town.

The Georgia Department of Corrections, in conjunction with local and state law enforcement around the Reidsville area, are now frantically searching for Munoz-Mendez. They apparently didn’t realize the error they’d made until Monday — nearly three full days after his accidental release — when they first announced the problem with this official statement made available to the media, and the public (below):

“On October 25 at approximately 11:30 a.m., inmate Tony Maycon Munoz-Mendez was released in error from Rogers State Prison in Reidsville, Georgia. All resources are being utilized to ensure the rapid apprehension of Munoz-Mendez, including the Georgia Department of Corrections Fugitive Unit and US Marshals. The public is reminded to call 911, and do not approach. Please see attached BOLO sheet for description and other details on Munoz-Mendez. Updates will be provided as they become available.”

At this point, it is unclear exactly how Munoz-Mendez’s accidental release came about — i.e., whether there was a computer error, or something else gone wrong to allow the convicted felon to be released early.

Regardless, police describe the 31-year-old prisoner as a white male with brown hair and brown eyes. He is 5’9″, and weighs about 186 pounds, and police are quick to caution the public NOT to approach him if found. Here’s more (below), from the GDC’s BOLO sheet for the prisoner:

*Press Release* Inmate Escape / Release in Error–> https://t.co/PfDoGg2JP1 pic.twitter.com/X6VEAVAujm

— Georgia Corrections (@GA_Corrections) October 28, 2019

So scary…

In a later statement given to local news outlet 11Alive, the GDC added more about their search for the convicted rapist (below):

“The priority of the GDC is apprehending the offender as quickly as possible, and at this time, we have all resources focused on the search. As soon as the error was discovered, the GDC immediately put those resources into place.”

Such a scary situation in southeast Georgia, and so many unknowns.

We can only hope he’s captured and taken back into custody without incident, and no one is harmed in the process. Ugh!!

[Image via Georgia Department of Corrections]