Delaware County jail inmate accidentally released early, officials say

A Darby man was accidentally released from the George W. Hill Correctional Facility earlier this month, officials said Wednesday as they continued their search for him.

Daniel Rogers, 41, had been in the Delaware County Jail since Aug. 5, when he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence, court records show. Judge Richard Cappelli sentenced him to 72 hours to six months in county jail, but officials accidentally released him from the facility on Aug. 9 before his release was approved by administrators there, according to sources at the jail with direct knowledge of the investigation.

According to the sources, prison staff did not learn of Rogers' escape until August 15 during an inmate census.

A county spokesman confirmed Wednesday that investigators are still trying to locate Rogers and are visiting previous addresses associated with him. The circumstances of his release remain under investigation.

“Efforts are currently underway to return the individual to the facility,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “We are conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances of this incident and will take corrective actions to prevent this from happening again in the future.”