Escaped Inmate From Western Wisconsin Facility Remains At Large

A week after escaping from a minimum-security facility in western Wisconsin, an inmate who authorities say is “armed and dangerous” remains at large.

Sawyer County authorities are searching for Kaeden T.J. Dumholt, the 20-year-old escapee, after a home invasion there. County Sheriff Mark Kelsey said they believe Dumholt was one of two suspects chased away by a homeowner Thursday evening. He said authorities recovered a stolen vehicle from Jackson County after a high-speed chase, and said a citizen witnessed one person fleeing the vehicle after it was driven into a ditch.

Rain and wind hampered their initial search, according to Kelsey.

“We received information this morning about a cabin in another county that was owned by a relative. That’s been checked several times,” he said.

Kelsey said it took them a day to release information of the incident because they were busy trying to apprehend Dumholt. He said they’re working with surrounding county authorities to locate him and the other suspect whose identity has not yet been determined.

According to Kelsey, one of the suspects was armed with a long gun. He advised anyone that comes in contact with Dumholt to avoid confronting the escaped inmate and immediately contact law enforcement.

The Sawyer County Sheriff’s Department declined to make reports of the incident available because the matter is still under investigation.

Dumholt escaped the Black River Correctional Center on Aug. 2. The superintendent of the facility did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

According to a statement from a Wisconsin Department of Corrections spokeswoman, Dumholt was incarcerated in 2013 and transferred to the unfenced Black River facility just three days before he escaped. He was scheduled to be released to “extended supervision” in March of next year.

The correctional center is among 14 minimum-security facilities operated by the state.