Gallatin Most Wanted Fugitive Escapes Sumner County Jail

GALLATIN, Tenn. (WKRN) – A fugitive on the “Most Wanted” list is on the loose in Sumner County after he and two other inmates made a daring escape from the Sumner County Jail on Thursday night.

Law enforcement officials have managed to apprehend one of the escapees, 43-year-old Elvis Bush, but 40-year-old William Rutherford and 29-year-old Kenneth Campbell are still at large. Rutherford, now considered a “Most Wanted” fugitive, has left the community on edge.

The jail, situated within close proximity to residential and commercial areas, has prompted authorities to advise residents to secure their homes and stay indoors following the jailbreak.

Reports indicate that the trio managed to flee through a window at the jail, highlighting the critical need for corrections officers as previously stated by officials.

Local residents have expressed their concerns about the escape, with one resident, Linda, stating, “I saw the picture of them walking around the jail and I thought, ‘Well, I wonder how that happened,’ and it is scary.”

Rutherford, who had previously served 19 years in prison for second-degree murder, committed another violent crime shortly after his release in June 2023. He shot a convenience store employee in the chest, earning him a spot on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Most Wanted list.

Brooklyn Collins, a shopper in downtown Gallatin, shared her unease, saying, “I was unaware, so now I’m a little concerned.”

Campbell, arrested on October 11, 2023, for theft, possession of a weapon by a felon, and various drug charges, and Bush, arrested on March 11, 2022, primarily for drug offenses, are also on the run.

As the search for the escapees intensifies, the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office is currently focused on locating 15-year-old Sebastian Rogers, who has been missing. The Hendersonville Police Department is assisting in the search for the fugitives as the sheriff’s office appeals to the community for assistance in both efforts.

Devin Wimberly, expressing optimism, stated, “I just have faith that they are going to capture them,” while urging residents to remain vigilant, lock their doors, and report any suspicious activity to the Sumner County Emergency Communications Center at 615-451-3838.