FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A 21-year-old murder suspect who escaped from the Broward County courthouse last week was arrested Wednesday night at a Days Inn in West Palm Beach, Sheriff Scott Israel said.
Dayonte Resiles was captured alone in room 149 of the motel just before 11 p.m.
"He came out of the room. He surrendered without incident," Israel said during a news conference early Thursday morning. "He laid on the ground. He allowed us to handcuff him. No force was necessary. As I said, he's back in custody, and Broward County and South Florida is a safer place."
Israel said Broward Sheriff's Office detectives received a tip that led them to the 45th Street motel.
Resiles was awaiting a hearing Friday morning when he escaped from the downtown Fort Lauderdale courthouse, eluding two unarmed bailiffs. He took off his jumpsuit, handcuffs and shackles during his escape. Surveillance video showed him running out of the courthouse wearing a white T-shirt and black shorts.
The escaped inmate is charged in the 2014 death of Jill Halliburton Su, whose body was found in a bathtub in her Davie home.
"We had a man who was on trial for murder," Israel said. "The state attorney is seeking the death penalty. It doesn't get more serious than that, and for him to be back in custody is a sense of relief."
Seven people have been arrested in connection with the escape, including inmate Walter Hart, who is accused of helping Resiles get out of his shackles before his escape.
Resiles' cousin, Francine Mesadieu, 31, and his friend, Paige Jackson, 18, both of Fort Lauderdale, were arrested Wednesday.
According to an arrest affidavit, Mesadieu gave Resiles a wig, eye color-changing contacts and clothing in an effort to help him conceal his identity.
Another arrest affidavit said that Jackson spoke to Resiles on the telephone at least 15 times between July 4 and July 7. Detectives believe she set up a series of three-way calls in order to help Resiles plan his escape.
Mesadieu and Jackson faced a Broward County judge Thursday morning. Mesadieu, who was already on probation, was ordered to be held without bond.
Jackson's bond was set at $50,000. Her mother almost collapsed in court when a prosecutor suggested a bond of $150,000 to $200,000.
The judge also ruled that Jackson, who is pregnant, must remain on house arrest if she gets out of jail.
LaQuay Stern, 18, of Palm Bay; Winston Russell Jr., 22, of Sunrise; and twins Kretron Barnes and TreVon Barnes, 17, of West Palm Beach, also face charges for their alleged roles in the escape.
Israel previously said that the twins sat in the courtroom while Stern and Russell waited in her silver BMW on the north side of the courthouse. He said one of the twins coughed into a cellphone as Resiles made his getaway, signaling to Stern and Russell that Resiles was on his way to the car.
West Palm Beach police waited for a search warrant to enter room 149. Police were seen leaving the room carrying several bags of evidence.
Israel said the BSO received a slew of fake tips during their investigation.
"There was a lot obstruction and, you know, the folks that our investigators crossed paths with were not very helpful," Israel said.
A $50,000 reward was offered for information leading to Resiles' arrest.
"At this point, there will be some people that are probably eligible for the award," Israel said.
Resiles was returned to the main county jail -- "his final resting place," as Israel called it -- early Thursday morning.
Israel said he had a brief encounter with Resiles after he was caught.
"I just looked at him and he said, 'The sheriff's here,'" Israel said.
