PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla., Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Two convicted killers mistakenly released from prison in Florida were arrested Saturday at a motel in Panama City Beach, state and federal officials said.
Charles Walker and Joseph Jenkins, both 34, and both serving life sentences, used forged documents to get out of Franklin Correctional Institution in Carrabelle, Fla. Jenkins got out Sept. 27 and Walker got out Oct. 8.
The two checked into the Coconut Grove Motor Inn in Panama City Beach Friday and were arrested at 5:40 p.m. local time Saturday by agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the U.S. Marshal's Service, the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel reported.
Walker, who was convicted of a 1999 second-degree murder, had spent time with his family and had attended church after his release, the newspaper said.
Jenkins was in prison for the 1998 first-degree murder of a father of six.
Prison officials set the two free based on documentation that turned out to have the forged signature of 9th District Chief Justice Belvin Perry, CBS News reported.
The state Department of Corrections said it will contact a judge from now on to determine the authenticity of signatures on documents reducing inmates' paperwork, the Sentinel said.
