Cherokee County Jail escapees captured

Two men that escaped from the Cherokee County Jail Monday night have been apprehended. Read the full press release below:

Following a massive manhunt, Mark Hopkins and Michael Martsolf were taken into custody in Ottawa County, Oklahoma.

Hopkins was being held on Capital Murder charges stemming from the June 2020 double homicide of 27-year-old Blaze Swank and 20-year-old Kylan Shook near Scammon.

Martsolf was being held on felony narcotics charges.

The suspects, who were armed at the time of arrest, now face additional charges of Aggravated Escape from Custody.

“I can’t commend enough, the incredible work by local law enforcement agencies, the Tri-State Major Case Squad, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Kansas Highway Patrol, Oklahoma and Missouri Highway Patrols, the United States Marshal’s Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the non-stop effort to capture these two fugitives this week,” stated Cherokee County Sheriff David Groves.

Tasha Young, 26, of Weir, was also arrested following a Thursday morning search warrant, for her alleged role in the escape. She is being held without bond on allegations of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Escape, Aiding and Abetting and Obstructing Justice.