Man sentenced in kidnapping mistakenly released from jail

BIRMINGHAM , Ala. (AP) – An inmate convicted of kidnapping a prominent Birmingham businessman was mistakenly released from jail because of missing paperwork.

News outlets report that law enforcement officials are searching for Matthew Amos Burke who was released from jail Friday because of the error. A judge last month sentenced Burke to 17 years in prison for kidnapping and bank fraud.

Birmingham businessman Elton B. Stephens, Jr. He was released from the Jefferson County jail Friday after a state charge was dismissed.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office told news outlets that the neighboring agency did not provide documentation to alert jail personnel that Burke was not to be released.

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12/14/2021 2:38:11 PM (GMT -6:00)