Florida prisoners used fake papers to escape, were caught at motel

(UPI) -- At least six Florida prisoners have tried to escape using forged release documents, officials said. Two of them, who successfully escaped from prison, were captured on Saturday in Panama City.

Joseph Jenkins and Charles Walker -- both of whom were convicted or murder -- were freed on September 27 and October 8 respectively with fake papers that claimed their life sentences had been reduced to 15 years.

They were both captured in a motel in Panama City, Florida on Saturday.

While police are investigating whether the prisoners had help, the mistake has prompted Florida to review and change its policy for early prisoner releases.

But Jenkins and Walker are not talking.

"They've lawyered up," said law enforcement commissioner Gerald Bailey. "Should they choose to co-operate, we will have the answers we need. The answers we demand sooner than later."

Investigators are reviewing a tablet and mobile phone the two left in the motel for evidence. Police say the two were waiting for someone to pick them up and drive them to Atlanta.

According to Bailey, there's no reason to believe anyone in the corrections department helped the prisoners escape, but investigators are still looking at any possibility.

Both convicted killers were released from the same northern Florida prison after they presented paperwork with a judge's forged signature.

Bailey said Jenkins had tried to escape using false documents before.

On Monday, Chief Circuit Judge Belvin Perry, whose signature was forged on the documents, signed an order that prohibits judicial orders from being accepted at drop-off boxes and requires that assistants keep records of all orders that would change a prison sentence.