Convicted murderer Mason Jenkins escapes Collins Bay Penitentiary in Kingston

Mason Jenkins, 49, convicted of first-degree murder in 1998, escaped Collins Bay Penitentiary Thursday. A manhunt is underway as questions mount over his minimum-security placement.

Fugitive killer at large after Collins Bay escape raises security questions

A convicted first-degree murderer has escaped from Collins Bay Penitentiary in Kingston, Ontario, according to Toronto Sun Crime, prompting an active manhunt and sharp questions about why he was housed in minimum security.

Mason Jenkins, 49, originally from Chatham, walked away from the institution on Bath Road on Thursday morning and has not been located since. Correctional Services Canada (CSC) has issued an arrest warrant and is working with law enforcement partners to find him.

CSC describes Jenkins as a white male, 5-foot-9, approximately 255 pounds, with a fair complexion, brown eyes and brown hair currently shaved bald. He was last seen wearing a light green jacket, blue jeans and rubber boots.

"Safety of our communities remains our top priority"

CSC spokesperson Mark Shrider confirmed the agency is investigating the circumstances surrounding the escape. "CSC takes all cases of escape very seriously, as the safety of our communities remains our top priority," Shrider said. "When an escape occurs, an arrest warrant is issued and shared with our law enforcement partners, who are responsible for executing it. We work closely with them to ensure the offender is apprehended as quickly as possible."

Shrider added that CSC is probing how Jenkins became unlawfully at large, and noted that "inmates who escape or become unlawfully at large may be subject to a security classification review and could face additional criminal charges."

On the question of minimum-security placement, Shrider said CSC "ensures that all inmates are placed in institutions that correspond to their security level," adding that classification decisions involve "evidence-based assessment tools, the professional judgment of specialized staff, and psychological evaluations."

A 1998 killing and a quarter-century behind bars

Jenkins has been incarcerated for more than 25 years following his 1998 conviction for the shooting murder of his sister, Jennifer Jenkins, who was 18 years old at the time. She was shot five times — in the chest and head — inside the family home in Chatham on January 6, 1998. Jenkins was also convicted on drug trafficking charges.

Sentenced to life in prison in 2001, Jenkins was given no eligibility for parole for 25 years, meaning he would have become parole-eligible around the time of his escape. It has not been confirmed whether he has had any parole hearings.

The investigation and trial, as documented in the Chatham Daily News and Kingston Whig-Standard, involved numerous complications: lawyers departing the case mid-proceedings, accounts of Jenkins attempting to flee Chatham on horseback, and a police report that he threatened to detonate what turned out to be a firecracker. The defence argued that a home invasion by four armed individuals had taken place and that one of them — not Jenkins — had fired the fatal shots. The jury rejected that account.

Jenkins has consistently maintained his innocence. His parents have supported him throughout his incarceration.

Minimum security and reported freedoms

The fact that Jenkins was able to miss a routine inmate count and leave the institution undetected has raised immediate concern in the Kingston community. Reports indicate he had previously been permitted to leave the institution for family funerals, and that he had relatively greater freedom of movement than many other inmates.

Whether those arrangements were appropriate given the severity of his conviction is now under scrutiny. CSC has not yet addressed those specific reports publicly.

Authorities warn public not to approach

Authorities are characterizing Jenkins as a dangerous individual. Members of the public who spot him are urged not to approach him and to contact police immediately.

Toronto Sun Crime also notes that some are suggesting one avenue to bring about Jenkins's surrender would be a formal review of his conviction — an examination of whether new evidence exists or whether the original verdict remains sound. Jenkins has served the full minimum term of his life sentence without parole, and the circumstances of his escape may prompt a broader review of how long-term inmates with first-degree murder convictions are classified within the federal correctional system.

Source: Toronto Sun Crime