PHELPS COUNTY — Two inmates who escaped the Phelps County Jail on Sept. 29 have been returned to custody.

According to the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department, inmates Steven Timothy Scott and Jonathan Eugene Schmidt O’Dell escaped by compromising the structural integrity of a cell and exiting through the building after 11 p.m.

Scott turned himself in shortly after the escape. The sheriff’s department reported the Phelps County Prosecutor’s Office planned to pursue escape from custody charges against him.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s St. Louis office, O’Dell was being held for numerous weapons charges. The FBI considered him “extremely dangerous.” The bureau reported O’Dell had been indicted in a federal court on allegations that he planned to murder United States Border Patrol who interfered with his plans to shoot at people illegally crossing the border between the U.S. and Mexico.

At 3:51 p.m. on Oct. 1, Phelps County Sheriff’s Department confirmed a sighting of O’Dell in Ray County. The witness knew O’Dell and alleged he had possession of a stolen vehicle from Phelps County.

At 5:23 p.m. that afternoon, Phelps County Sheriff’s Department reported O’Dell had been taken into custody following a pursuit with law enforcement in Ray County. Law enforcement also recovered the vehicle.

On Oct. 2, Ray County Prosecuting Attorney Camille Johnston charged O’Dell on allegations of two felonies: first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle and resisting arrest/detention/stop by fleeing while creating a substantial risk of serious injury/death to any person.

Both the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI’s St. Louis office made Facebook posts thanking the public for their assistance and cooperation in the investigation.