A manhunt has been launched by the Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office, the Plaquemine Police Department, and the U.S. Marshalls after the wrongful release of convicted killer Benjuiel Johnson last Sept. 23.
According to the news report of WAFB, the manslaughter charges of Johnson didn't appear in his records when he was about to be released from Dixon due to his good behavior for his prior charges.
Louisiana Department of Corrections admitted the error that occurred during the release process of Johnson. "We're not trying to make excuses, it's something that should not have happened," said Pam Laborde, spokesperson for the Louisiana Department of Corrections.
Laborde also said that the person in-charge and the one who committed the error during the release process of Johnson will be facing disciplinary actions.
Chief of the Plaquemine Police Department Kenny Payne, who also helped in the case of Johnson in 2013, is frustrated about the recent events. "You know mistakes happen. I know I would be extremely perturbed at my department had anyone in my department done something like that," said Payne.
Johnson was convicted after filing guilty of the manslaughter of Cordies and for illegal possession of firearms by a convicting felon last 2013.
Tony Clayton, a special prosecutor who assisted in Johnson's conviction in 2013, said that the news of the mistaken release of Johnson is shocking, but he is feeling more concerned. "He's a dangerous person, but we're going to get him, we're going to catch him. If he's a smart man, which he probably isn't, he should probably turn himself in and if not - we're going to use every resource available to take him off the streets," Clayton said.
The family of Johnson was approached by the police and officials in the hope of finding Johnson.
Johnson's mother was happy about the release of her son and even believed that "it is a gift from god that he [got] out early." She is now worried about the well-being of her son. She is afraid that the police would kill her son if they found him.
"It's not his fault, it's not his fault. He got released," Johnson said. "You told him he was no longer your property, he bonded out, and now you're hunting him like a dog, like he escaped from prison or something. But no he didn't escape. You let him go. You all opened the doors and let him out of there," said the mother.
Police and officials are now pleading for the public's help to make sure that Johnson will be brought back behind bars.
Share the information to all and immediately dial 911 when you have seen Johnson.
