Bibb County jail inmate dies in hospital after weekend escape, coroner says

A Bibb County jail inmate who escaped from custody Friday while was being treated for a “medical issue” at a nearby hospital died Tuesday, two days after he was found unresponsive at a relative’s house in southwest Macon.

Ha’Keem Romaire Barrett, 20, who had been jailed on multiple armed robbery and aggravated assault charges for an alleged 2019 crime spree, fled the hospital Friday after climbing into a ceiling and slipping out a hallway.

He was returned to the hospital by police in critical condition on Sunday after a weekend on the lam.

Coroner Leon Jones said Barrett was pronounced dead on Tuesday at 5:57 a.m.

It was not immediately clear what medical problems Barrett may have suffered.

The Bibb County deputy guarding Barrett at the hospital when he escaped has been placed on leave, pending an internal investigation.

This story was originally published February 8, 2022 at 9:05 AM.

Joe Kovac Jr.

The Telegraph

Joe Kovac Jr. writes about local news and features for The Telegraph, with an eye for human-interest stories. Joe is a Warner Robins native and graduate of Warner Robins High. He joined the Telegraph in 1991 after graduating from the University of Georgia. As a Pulliam Fellowship recipient in 1991, Joe worked for the Indianapolis News. His stories have appeared in the Washington Post, the Seattle Times and Atlanta Magazine. He has been a Livingston Award finalist and won numerous Georgia Press Association and Georgia Associated Press awards.