4 juvenile murder accused escape from Sophia Holding Centre

…use unattended keys to exit facility

Four juveniles who are accused of murder escaped from the Sophia Holding Centre on separate occasions last week, and Police have since been tight-lipped on the issue.
While details on the escape remain sketchy, Guyana Times was informed that last Wednesday around mid-day, three teens – two boys and a girl – escaped from the Juvenile Holding Centre while the other teen escaped two days later.
A source close to the investigation told this publication that on Wednesday the three teens escaped from the holding centre’s classroom, using keys that were left on a table in the classroom.
After taking the keys, the trio reportedly opened the door of the classroom, jumped over a fence, and fled. An alarm was raised when the teens were missed, but by then some time had elapsed. Searches by law enforcement officers proved futile.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, another teen who was remanded for murder escaped while in solitary confinement. Sources said the teen escaped after taking the keys that were left unattended.
The escapees have not been recaptured, and the Guyana Police Force has not said anything on the matter.
In April 2021, seven juveniles made a run for freedom from the Sophia Holding Centre.
Police said after the escape an alarm was raised and quick response by law enforcement led to the recapturing of four of the escapees. Two still remain on the run.
In 2020, 13 teenagers escaped from the Juvenile Holding Centre after attacking two Police Officers, who were on guard duty at the time.
The teens, who were housed in cell two and who had matters ranging from armed robbery to rape and murder, broke out of their cells and attacked the security personnel, who were guarding the entrance of the building.
During the attack, the unarmed Police Officers were relieved of the keys to some of the other cells after which the juveniles sprinted from the facility.
An alarm was raised, and a search was conducted in nearby communities where five of the teens were recaptured and taken back to the facility.
The other teenagers were later recaptured. (G9)