The four-day manhunt for an inmate who escaped from the Monroe Correctional Complex ended in his capture late Monday evening. Patrick Lester Clay, a 59-year-old prisoner with convictions for burglary, malicious mischief, harassment, and theft, was slated for release on December 24, 2025. He is back in custody, according to a combined effort by the Washington Department of Corrections (DOC) Northwest Community Response Unit, the Seattle Police Department's Community Response Group, and the U.S. Marshals Service, as reported by FOX 13.

Clay's escape from the minimum-security facility prompted the DOC to issue a cautionary public announcement last Friday. The community had been on high alert until Clay was located and apprehended in Seattle's Central District. Despite the successful arrest, the DOC will re-examine their security protocols to comprehend how Clay managed to escape, as Chris Wright from the DOC told KIRO 7.

Details of Clay's escape are scant, but Monroe Police intend to divulge more information later today. The DOC spokesperson pointed out that while incidents like these have diminished, they still occur. This escape marks the second such instance in Washington within the last two years. Moreover, KOMO News provided details surrounding the circumstances of Clay's incarceration, noting his impending release date prior to the escape.

Following the apprehension, Clay will likely face additional legal consequences on top of serving the remainder of his sentence. The agencies involved in the capture have not disclosed exactly how the inmate was located. The swift collaboration among local and federal law enforcement was instrumental in ending the potentially dangerous situation. The current focus for DOC officials is to ensure that similar breaches of security are prevented, with Wright stating, "They will look at their protocols going forward," as relayed by KIRO 7.