Escaped Inmate Found Dead Inside Philadelphia Warehouse Identified

Philadelphia, AP – The body discovered inside a warehouse in Philadelphia has been identified as an inmate who had escaped from a work detail nearly two weeks ago, marking the fourth jailbreak incident in the city this year, according to police reports released on Tuesday.

The Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that the body found on Monday has been identified as Gino Hagenkotter, the escaped prisoner, as stated in a news release by the police department.

Gino Hagenkotter, 34, was serving a sentence for theft and burglary charges when he managed to escape from the grounds of the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center on November 30. At that time, Hagenkotter, who was working in the orchard, requested permission from the guard to use the bathroom. However, upon failing to return, the guard checked the restroom and discovered Hagenkotter’s absence, officials reported.

Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore revealed that Hagenkotter had scaled a fence, traversed a city sanitation department yard adjacent to the prison, discarded his jumpsuit, and was last captured on surveillance footage walking down the street.

On Monday afternoon, authorities responded to a distress call regarding an unresponsive man inside a warehouse. The individual was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators discovered signs of forced entry, including a broken air vent, a pushed-out fan, and a ladder in close proximity, indicating a possible break-in, the police added.

Following fingerprint analysis, the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office notified the police on Tuesday that the deceased man was indeed Gino Hagenkotter. The U.S. Marshals Service Philadelphia, who had been assisting in the search, informed Hagenkotter’s family of the discovery.

While the cause of death remains under investigation, authorities believe that Hagenkotter’s escape was influenced by the cancellation of his scheduled transfer from the nearby Riverside Correctional Facility to a transitional program. The cancellation was prompted by the revelation of open retail theft charges against him in suburban Bucks County, resulting in an extended stay at Riverside until April, according to Philadelphia Department of Prisons Commissioner Blanche Carney.

Notably, Hagenkotter’s escape marks the fourth instance of a prisoner escaping custody in Philadelphia this year.

In a previous incident in May, two men, including one facing four murder charges, managed to escape from the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center by exploiting a gap that had been deliberately cut into a chain-link fence. These individuals evaded authorities for nearly 19 hours before their absence was discovered. Fortunately, both escapees were subsequently apprehended.

Additionally, in September, a woman briefly escaped from the same jail by scaling two fences topped with razor wire.

This news article is brought to you by The Associated Press.