By Max Reinhart
The Detroit News
CRAWFORD COUNTY, Mich. — An escaped inmate was captured Monday, Oct. 26, in a swampy northern Michigan woods.
Michigan State Police utilized its forward-looking infrared (FLIR) camera to find the suspect hiding beneath logs and debris, and posted video of the end of the manhunt on social media.
In the 80-second clip, several officers can be seen methodically surrounding the suspect, guided by another officer in a helicopter hovering above them.
The escapee appears to have been well concealed. The surrounding officers couldn’t see him until they were mere feet away.
“You guys are almost standing on top of (him),” the officer in the helicopter says.
A moment later, one officer responds, “We got him.”
The inmate had escaped from the Crawford County Jail in Grayling and was hiding nearby, in a wooded area near the Grayling Country Club , the MSP Seventh District said in a post on X.
Once he was located, the inmate was taken into custody, authorities said.
The suspect, Casey Jo Helsel, had escaped from the jail around 1:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26 , through a jail door that had been left propped open, according to an UpNorthLive report. Authorities said they were reviewing the incident to make policy changes to eliminate future escapes.
There was no immediate word on what additional charges Helsel might face.
In Michigan, escaping from a jail can be a felony, punishable by up to two additional years behind bars.
©2026 The Detroit News. Visit detroitnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
