The inmate who escaped from the Pearl River County Jail more than a week ago was found in Meridian.

Raphael R. Taylor, 22, escaped from the jail in Millard on July 17. Previous reports stated he walked away from the jail after returning from a work detail but it is now suspected he may have cut a hole in the gate to escape, said Chief Deputy Shane Tucker.

Before his escape Taylor applied for a weekend pass in response to an alleged death in the family. When the Sheriff’s Department was unable to confirm there was a death in Taylor’s family, his request was denied. He later escaped.

Tucker said Taylor was part of the Mississippi Department of Corrections trustee program.

Since his capture on Thursday, according to a press release from MDOC, Taylor was taken to the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Pearl. Chief Investigator Donnie Saucier said Taylor will not return to the Pearl River County jail and has lost his trustee status.

The release states Taylor was being held on a conviction of vehicular burglary in Lauderdale County.

If Taylor is convicted of escape, he could have an additional five years added to his time, the release states.