After nearly two weeks on the run that included a reported kidnapping and a multi-county search, escaped inmate Robey L. Butler was captured Monday morning near Keota, bringing a tense manhunt to a safe conclusion.
According to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (ODOC), Butler, 36, was taken into custody at around 9:25 a.m. March 2, 12 days after he unlawfully walked away from the Jackie Brannon Correctional Center in McAlester on the night of Feb. 18.
Butler is currently serving a six-year sentence for child neglect out of Sequoyah County.
The search began shortly after 9 p.m. Feb. 18, when Butler was reported missing from the minimum-security facility. Facility staff, along with the Oklahoma State Penitentiary Correctional Emer- gency Response Team and the ODOC Office of Inspector General Fugitive Apprehension team, immediately began searching the prison grounds and surrounding areas.
Authorities later confirmed that Butler’s escape escalated the following day.
ODOC reported that Butler took a firearm and hijacked a vehicle about five miles north of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in Pittsburg County and drove away with a passenger still inside. After reaching Keota, he abandoned the car and the kidnapped victim, then fled on foot and eventually discarded the gun. The hostage was later located safe.
Found near Kerr Lake Search efforts intensified in eastern Haskell County, particularly around Red Hill and Keota. Multiple agencies assisted with ground searches, air support and drone surveillance.
Sequoyah County Sheriff Larry Lane said Butler was ultimately apprehended from a small island near Keota, where authorities believe he had been staying for much of the time he was on the run.
Investigators said Butler attempted to evade drone detection by jumping into the water, which was around 57 degrees, when he heard aircraft overhead in an effort to obscure his heat signature.
The break in the case came after a tip from a fisherman on Kerr Lake. Haskell County Sheriff Terry Garland said he received a call around 8:50 a.m. March 2 from a Choctaw tribal officer relaying information from an off-duty Choctaw security officer who was fishing and spotted a man on the shoreline yelling for help. Suspicious the individual could be the escapee attempting to commandeer a boat, the fisherman alerted authorities and provided the location.
Law enforcement officers responded to the wooded area and located Butler about two and a half miles south of where the discarded firearm had been recovered. He was taken into custody without incident.
“He stated that he had not eaten since the Friday he was dropped off in the area,” Sheriff Garland said. “Authorities reported he had also dug holes in an attempt to find drinking water.”
Butler was transported by the Haskell County Sheriff ’s Office and transferred to ODOC custody. Officials said he has since been moved to a higher-security facility, where he will continue serving his original sentence while awaiting the filing of numerous new charges.
Police response
The manhunt drew assistance from a broad coalition of agencies, including the Haskell County Sheriff’s Office, Keota Police Department, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Tulsa Police Department, Choctaw Emergency Management, the United States Marshals Service and McAlester Police Department, among others.
ODOC Director Justin Farris praised the coordinated response.
“Public safety requires teamwork, and I’m incredibly proud of our staff for diligently working to protect the public and for working together as one team,” Farris said. “I’m also grateful to our partners who helped us search for and apprehend Butler without incident.”
State Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, said the operation demonstrated “the dedication and professionalism of law enforcement at all levels,” while Rep. Tim Turner, R-Kinta, commended the coordination between state and local agencies and thanked the Haskell County Sheriff ’s Office for keeping the community safe.
Criminal history
Court records show Butler was formally charged Feb. 19 in Pittsburg County District Court with escape from the Department of Corrections following his walkaway.
In March 2024, he was charged in Sequoyah County District Court with child neglect, two counts of child abuse, false report of child abuse and neglect or refusal to compel a child to attend school. He later entered a no contest plea.
In a separate federal case, Butler was sentenced in July 2025 to three years probation for possession of a stolen firearm following a joint investigation involving federal and local authorities.
Authorities previously warned residents in communities including Keota, Red Hill and Vian to remain vigilant, secure homes and vehicles and report suspicious activity. With Butler now back in custody, officials say the immediate threat to the public has ended.
With Butler now back in custody, authorities say additional charges related to the escape and kidnapping are expected.
