Dauphin County probation officials are looking into how the 15-year-old charged in the shooting death of Malik Stern-Jones escaped from authorities' custody Aug. 5.
Also looking into the escape is Abraxas Youth and Family Services, in whose custody Niejea Stern had been Aug. 5 when he escaped while at the Children's Resource Center in Harrisburg for questioning, said Pablo Paez of the GEO Group of Florida, who responded for Abraxas.
"This was a unique and unfortunate situation which is currently under investigation. Abraxas has had no other escapes from secure detention or secure treatment programs," Paez said, adding the company has had a 38-year partnership with Dauphin County.
Amy Richards Harinath, county spokeswoman, said the teen was in custody of Abraxas Youth and Family Services personnel, with whom the county contracts for services. "No county probation officers were present," she said.
Jeffrey Haste, chairman of the county commissioners, said anytime there is an escape, whether from work release or other custody, the county reviews procedures and how they occurred.
Niejea Stern, charged Aug. 20 with homicide in the shooting death Aug. 19 of Malik Stern-Jones in Hall Manor, escaped at the Children's Resource Center, where he had been taken for an interview on an unrelated matter, District Attorney Ed Marsico said Tuesday. Stern was serving time in a juvenile detention center in connection with a robbery charge, Marsico said.
Haste said from what he has been told, detention officers "did mostly everything they normally do. The kid was a persistent kid." He said Chad Libby, county probation services director, is looking into the matter.
Marsico said Stern's legs were unshackled, but not his wrists, when he asked to use the bathroom. He fled, eluding detention guards and police.
Haste said the escapes are among other matters scrutinized when the county's contract with Abraxas comes up for review annually.