Death Row inmate escapes Ft. Lauderdale court house and is on the lose
FT. LAUDERDALE – Deputies are searching for a murder suspect who escaped the Broward County Courthouse. Authorities say Dayonte Resiles slipped out of his jail jumpsuit and handcuffs and escaped Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. from the courthouse in Fort Lauderdale.
Courthouse officials say he was in the process of being unshackled when he broke free.
The courthouse is on lockdown, according to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies are reviewing surveillance video and K-9 units can be seen searching the courthouse.
Resiles was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and black shorts.
Resiles is charged with the September 2014 home invasion stabbing death in nearby Davie of Jill Halliburton Su, 59, a member of the wealthy Texas-based Halliburton Co who married a University of Florida entymology professor.
He was in court for a hearing over whether the death penalty applies to his case, according to media reports.
Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said there were two bailiffs in the courtroom when Resiles got free from his shackles and ran out of the room. Israel said one of the bailiffs unsuccessfully tried to grab Resiles, but he got away through the north wing of the building.
Israel chastised Broward County commissioners, saying that the staffing at the courthouse has been insufficient since he first took office.
“The county believes that my job is to save dollars,” Israel said. “I believe my job is to save lives.”
Israel said an alarm in the courthouse sounded and deputies established a perimeter within minutes, but he believes Resiles defeated the perimeter before deputies could get in place.
The sheriff said he doesn’t know how Resiles got out of his shackles.
“He was shackled appropriately,” Israel said.
The courthouse was evacuated, but everyone was eventually allowed back inside, although the north wing remained closed for much of the day.
Court records indicate that prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Resiles. Friday morning’s scheduled hearing was for a motion to remove the death penalty status.
The records also show Boca Raton police arrested Resiles in 2014 for attempted burglary, grand theft, loitering and prowling. He received a 2year prison sentence. He was out on bond at the time of the killing in Davie, Florida.
