Murder suspect escapes from DepCor transport van

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - A pre-trial detainee managed to get out of handcuffs and a Department of Corrections transport van this morning.

A murder suspect was on the run for less than an hour-and-a-half this morning after he jumped out of a transport van heading to the Superior Court of Guam this morning while at the traffic light on Maimai Road and Route 4 in Chalan Pago.  Keith Jermaine Garrido is currently being held behind bars on two criminal cases but most recently for the brutal murder of Barrigada resident Nancy Mafnas. 

DepCor spokesperson Officer Jeff Limo says around 8:15 this morning Garrido broke free from his handcuffs and escaped on foot but eluded DepCor personnel.  DepCor's Special Operations Response Team, along Hagatna Precinct personnel and GPD's SWAT Team arrived on the scene and began saturating the Chalan Pago area.

"The individual was wearing his uniform classified shirt, which was an orange shirt. He was able to take that off and one of the SORT members was able to recover during the search," Limo detailed.

Garrido admitted that he stole a shirt from the clothesline in the back of a residence as he was fleeing. About an 90 minutes later, an officer assigned to the Hagatna Precinct spotted Garrido crossing Route 4 and running toward the old Song's Auto Shop, where he was taken down.  Garrido was charged with felony escape and was re-confined but this time in the Maximum Security Unit.

Said Limo, "There's no excuse to how this individual escaped. The transport vehicle that we have currently has no safety devices where the individuals detained or inmates can open it from the inside. This van that we currently have does not have that capability."

Law enforcement authorities also converged on this home in Chalan Pago where they found a woman bound and beaten inside.  Police believe garrido broke into her home and beat and robbed her before he was taken down.

Asked whether DepCor could confirm whether or not there is any correlation or link between Garrido's escape and that assault, Limo responded, "I hope that's not the case. It's still in the hands of GPD and if it is linked, we'll take full responsibility for that."

DepCor is now conducting an Internal Affairs investigation into the escape to ensure proper protocols were adhered to.  The Guam Police Department meanwhile continues their investigation into the assault. GPD spokesperson Officer A.J. Balajadia meanwhile says detectives have been unable to interview the victim as she is undergoing medical treatment at the hospital.

Keith Garrido was also charged with Attempted Murder, Aggravated Assault,  Burglary, Robbery, and Attempted Theft of a Motor Vehicle. The female victim is in the Intensive Care Unit.