Authorities capture jail escapee

A multi county partnership between local law enforcement agencies resulted in the quick arrest of an accused sex offender Friday, about 18 hours after he fled from the Franklin County Jail.

Investigators said Jerry O’Dell Kelley, 34, 519 Goddard Road, Bear Creek took off and fled on foot around 11 p.m. Thursday night.

He was captured about 4 p.m. Friday at Spring Park in Tuscumbia.

Authorities said Kelly is charged with first-degree attempted rape, enticing a child for immoral purposes, first-degree sodomy, first-degree sexual abuse and failure to register as a sex offender in Franklin County.

Investigators said first-degree escape charges were filed Friday.

Sheriff Larry Plott said that an internal investigation will be concluded to determine how Kelley escaped.

“We will look at everything from malfunctioning doors to personnel policy procedures,” Plott said.

“This is the first time anyone has escaped from this jail and we take it very seriously.”

Plott said the Colbert County sheriff’s office and the Tuscumbia Police Department were instrumental to capturing Kelley.

“All the departments that assisted in this case helped to get a dangerous criminal  off the streets very quickly,” Plott said.