Tenika Nicole Romero, 35, of Drew has been arrested in connection with Monday’s escape of two Parchman inmates who were discovered missing during the routine count of Unit 30 of the facility.
Romero was booked into the Sunflower County Jail Wednesday morning and charged with conspiracy to escape and her bond has been set at $50,000.
Inmate Ryan Young, 22, is still at large, and law enforcement officials are searching for him in the Drew area. Young is a black male, standing at 5-foot-9. He is considered armed and dangerous.
Young is serving 40 years for burglary of a vehicle, burglary of a residence, grand larceny and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to the Mississippi Department of Corrections. He was sentenced in 2015 from Claiborne County.
He fled with inmate James R. Sanders, 41, who was captured in Phillips County Arkansas on Tuesday afternoon. Sanders, who is serving life for murder, was captured after the reward for information leading to both men's capture was increased to $10,000. Sanders was sentenced from Lafayette County and has been in prison since 2000.
Exactly how the two men escaped this week and what role Romero played in the escape is part of an ongoing investigation. Police were still interviewing her at press time.
Anyone who knows Young's whereabouts or has information regarding him, call the MDOC at 662-745-6611, ext. 4200, or Central Mississippi Crime Stoppers hotline at 601-355-TIPS (8477) or 1-866-481-8477. Tips also can be received online at www.P3tips.comhttp://www.P3tips.com>
