Beneck Barthold flees Georgia facility in naked climb over razor wire

Beneck Barthold, a 35-year-old Haitian national held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, escaped from a detention center in Folkston, Georgia, on Sunday. The 35-year-old male is currently the subject of a manhunt involving local, state, and federal agencies. Charlton County authorities confirmed his identity after he was found missing from the D. Ray James Correctional Facility at approximately 10 a.m.

Sheriff Robert Phillips of Charlton County said Barthold stripped to the waist and climbed a fence lined with razor wire to exit the compound. Phillips described the wire as severe, noting that it causes cuts. "It’s bad, bad razor wire. This stuff cuts you. He’s hurt," Phillips said in a Wednesday interview. He added that Barthold may have been picked up by someone or could be injured and hiding in the area.

The facility is the D. Ray James Correctional Facility in Folkston, Georgia. It is a private facility operated by ICE that holds roughly 2,200 detainees. The center opened in 2025 and has expanded its capacity to accommodate more detainees, including those in criminal immigration proceedings. A July ICE access record from the nearby Clearinghouse shows Barthold was held in federal custody for a period of one year.

Law enforcement teams conducted door-to-door searches in the local area, checking homes and businesses for signs of the escapee. Agents from the U.S. Marshals Service, the Georgia Department of Corrections, and local police participated in the initial sweep. The search included a review of surveillance footage from the past month to track Barthold's movements. A warrant for his arrest was issued on Tuesday.

Phillips stated that the location of Barthold’s cell is known, and his fingerprints and a photo have been shared with other authorities. The sheriff noted that the suspect was driven to a local facility by a county driver who had been arrested and was on a one-year bond. "We have him, so local law enforcement is working with us," Phillips said.

The search has covered a wide area, including rural roads and residential zones. Agents have reviewed property records and talked with neighbors in the region. The manhunt continues as teams look for the 35-year-old male in the vicinity of the facility.