INDIANAPOLIS, IN – A murder suspect, who was mistakenly released from an Indiana jail, has been apprehended in Minnesota after a two-week manhunt, according to authorities. Kevin Mason, 28, was taken into custody in St. Paul by the United States Marshals Service (USMS) on Wednesday afternoon.

Mason’s release from the Adult Detention Center in Indianapolis on September 13 was due to a clerical error. He had been arrested days prior on suspicion of the 2021 murder of Dontevious Catchings in Minnesota, with three separate warrants issued for his arrest from the state.

Marion County Sheriff Kerry J. Forestal expressed his gratitude to the USMS for their efforts in recapturing Mason. He praised the federal agency for their constant communication and the resources they provided, particularly their task force partnerships with local law enforcement agencies, which enabled them to pursue Mason across the country.

The error that led to Mason’s release occurred when an inmate records clerk at the detention center mistakenly cleared two of the holds on Mason. The remaining hold was subsequently removed by Minnesota authorities, who were unaware that the other two had been lifted. As a result of this oversight, two employees of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office have been dismissed.

Authorities were alerted to Mason’s release within hours. However, they chose to withhold this information from the public for six days to maintain a “tactical advantage”. During the manhunt, Mason was allegedly aided by Desiree Oliver, 29, a nurse believed to be Mason’s girlfriend. Oliver was arrested on one count of assisting a criminal after she reportedly picked Mason up in her car and helped him acquire a cellphone and clothes.

While Mason faces no charges in Indiana, he is expected to be extradited to Minnesota to face charges related to the 2021 murder.