BIBB COUNTY, Ga. — Editor's Note: The above video is from a previous version story.
Two women were arrested for helping one of the Bibb County Jail escapee who was recently captured, according to the sheriff's office.
The 30-year-old women face state and federal charges for aiding and abetting. They were arrested in the 1700 block of Campbell Avenue, not far from Mercer University.
Both women join a total of five people arrested and charged with aiding and abetting one of the Bibb County escapees, according to 11Alive's sister station, 13WMAZ. Bibb County Sheriff's deputies said the women hindered the capture of 37-year-old Johnifer Barnwell, who was recently taken into custody at an Augusta home.
Barnwell was initially arrested after evidence from the FBI suggested he was involved in a "drug trafficking organization." According to the FBI, agents screened Barnwell's phone calls and found Barnwell communicating with other members of his organization about drug runs and money owed.
Just two weeks before his escape, a jury found him guilty on six counts of drug trafficking charges. While he has been found guilty, the U.S. Attorney's Office asked to delay Barnwell's sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom argued that if Barnwell was sentenced to life in prison, he'd be more likely to use deadly force to avoid arrest.
Both of the women were taken to law enforcement facilities where they are being held without bond.
The Escape
It all happened almost a month ago on Oct. 16 when the four inmates -- Johnifer Barnwell, Joey Fournier, Chavis Stokes and Marc Anderson -- left the Bibb County Jail in an elaborate escape.
Fournier was arrested and charged with murdering his ex-girlfriend in early 2022 at a Barrington Hall home. Anderson was in jail for aggravated assault. Stokes was arrested in a 2020 drug bust. Barnwell was convicted in October of armed fentanyl, meth, and heroin trafficking.
According to 13WMAZ sources, a blue Dodge Challenger brought tools to the jail grounds, including power tools that the inmates used to chisel through the window to create enough space for them to escape. One source said that a drone was used to bring the chisel over, and another says that intruders cut through two fences, inmates lowered bedsheets and raised the tools to the second floor. They say three officers were on duty in the cell blocks, plus a corporal working in master control who was on "light duty" and could not leave their post, according to 13WMAZ's sources.
Photos of the alleged elaborate escape can be viewed below. (This story continues below the gallery.)
52-year-old Joey Fournier has still not been captured.
Sheriff's deputies are asking anyone with information on his possible location to contact the FBI tip line at 1-800-225-5324 or call the United State Marshal's Service at 1-877-WANTED2.