Murder suspect mistakenly released by California jail captured after 5-month manhunt

Isaiah Andrews was located in St. Louis, Missouri, on Wednesday, according to the US Marshals Service. Andrews, originally from a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington, has been wanted in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred in October 2025.

Andrews is accused of being responsible for the shooting death of 20-year-old Theodore Wheeler outside a hotel. Three days after the incident, Andrews was located in Contra Costa County in California, where he was arrested following a pursuit. He was held on a warrant related to homicide, as well as local charges and a juvenile warrant out of Sacramento.

Despite being held on multiple charges, Andrews was mistakenly released on October 22 from the Martinez Detention Facility in the San Francisco Bay Area. Authorities said the error was not discovered until after he had already left the facility.

A search was launched, but Andrews remained at large for more than five months before being located in Missouri. He is now expected to be extradited to Washington state, where he will face a charge of first-degree murder.

Authorities have not provided an explanation for how the mistaken release occurred. A spokesperson for the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office. A spokesperson for the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office told Fox News that the agency had no additional comments past the statement confirming he was arrested.

"The Sheriff’s Office immediately searched for him," the statement read. "The U.S. Marshals Service took over the case when it was confirmed Andrews was no longer in the area."

After the mistake was first made public, the victim’s mother told reporters, "I’m sad, I’m hurt, I’m disappointed. I feel like they don’t care.”

"They shouldn’t have anyone in the field who would let something like this happen. Never," she added. "I want someone to step up and take responsibility. They’re putting my family in danger."

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