Investigators found a suspicious cord and a 15-inch sharp item during their search in the damaged Clark County jail cell of a triple murder suspect, according to court records.
Inside Brent Luyster’s jail cell Sunday, deputies found the weighted cord with a hook at one end and long enough to reach the outside ground, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by Deputy Fred Neiman, Jr., one of the investigators during the attempted escape discovered Sunday night. A metal object was also hidden between the jimmied interior window of his cell and a broken outer window with a hole big enough to fit a gun or other contraband, he wrote.
Luyster, who was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday on charges related to a 2016 homicide, now faces additional accusations of possession of a weapon by a prisoner, first-degree malicious mischief and second-degree attempted escape. Deputies arrested Luyster on accusations of aggravated murder, attempted murder and unlawful use of a gun after investigators said he shot four people, killing three, in Woodland, Washington, in July.
His arraignment was postponed until next month, and Luyster told a judge he wishes to defend himself against the new accusations, according to court records filed Tuesday. The Columbian reported Luyster’s statement surprised his court-appointed attorney during a court hearing that included extra security provided by the Vancouver Police Department and a dozen jail deputies.
The escape attempt, discovered by a jail deputy, occurred about 9 p.m., officials have said. A jail deputy was walking the perimeter when he noticed a broken window.
Luyster was the only inmate housed inside the cell, but he had contact with other inmates, and deputies were concerned contraband could have been passed along, Neiman wrote in the affidavit. The outer glass window was reinforced with metal crossbars, and the interior window is made from a mesh screen normally locked by a key.
Clark County Sheriff’s Office
Deputies found a comb that was filed down to a similar size of the window’s keyhole, Neiman wrote. Between the inner and outer windows, investigators found a manila folder covering an 8-x-6-inch portion of the glass window that was broken. Outside the jail, the ground was about 20 feet below the window.
Investigators also noticed that both ends of the metal crossbars had cuts in them but not deep enough to break. If the bars would have been removed, an inmate could have escaped through the 14-x-15-inch window, Neiman wrote.
Deputies also found the 15-inch metal item, which featured ends that appeared to be grounded down to sharp points, Neiman wrote. After the investigation, deputies concluded nothing was smuggled into the jail despite the damage.
Luyster’s next court hearing is scheduled for March 6, and he continues to be jailed without bail. A judge told Luyster he will rule on the request to defend himself after he is arraigned on the new accusations, according to The Columbian.
— Tony Hernandez
thernandez@oregonian.com
503-294-5928
@tonyhreports
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