UPDATE: Dauphin County Prison Inmate Escapee in Custody; 2 Officers no Longer Employed

Autum R Flowers CROP

A Dauphin County Prison inmate who escaped custody last week at Harrisburg Hospital was taken into custody on Sunday.

Autum R. Flowers, 34, was arrested in Harrisburg city, near 15th and Derry Streets. Police received information that led to her arrest.

Flowers, who was initially incarcerated on Nov. 11 on drugs-related charges, is back at Dauphin County Prison.

Prison officials and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office reviewed how Flowers fled the hospital on Nov. 22.

Two corrections officers were stationed at the hospital with custody of Flowers.

Those two officers submitted resignations of employment on Tuesday morning. They had been suspended since the escape incident.

A review of the incident revealed the officers were sitting in a hospital room, with Flowers on a bed. The officers did not see Flowers slip out of shackles and walk out of the room and hospital facility.

“The investigation clearly showed best practices were not followed,” Prison Warden Gregory Briggs said. “There must be accountability for actions. We cannot put public safety at risk.”

The review is ongoing to determine what changes can be made to minimize future risks.

The Dauphin County Board of Prison Inspectors has been aware of all developments regarding the escape incident.

“We remain fully committed to improving prison operations and being as transparent to the public as possible during that process,” said Mike Pries, chairman of the Dauphin County Commissioners and prison board.

There was an active search for Flowers following the escape. We thank members of the public who offered information and submitted tips.

We also thank the Harrisburg city police, along with the DA’s Criminal Investigation Division, for their assistance.

MEDIA CONTACT: Brett Hambright, Press Secretary, 717-780-6311; bhambright@dauphinc.org.