Suspected killer loose after being mistakenly released from California jail

(KRON) -- A suspected killer remains at-large after he was mistakenly released from jail in California, the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office said. The man's whereabouts are unknown.

Deputies mistakenly released inmate Isaiah Jamon Andrews, 20, of Kent, Washington, from Martinez Detention Facility on Oct. 22. "After Sheriff’s Office staff realized Andrews had been released, we launched a search of the immediate area and confirmed that Andrews was no longer in the area," the sheriff's office wrote.

The search for Andrews is ongoing by U.S. Marshals.

Andrews is the prime suspect in an Oct. 15 homicide in Seattle, where a 20-year-old man was shot to death at a hotel in the city's Northgate neighborhood, according to Seattle Police Department Detective Brian Pritchard.

Three days after the Seattle hotel killing, police officers spotted Andrews driving in Contra Costa County and a police chase ensued. The chase ended with officers from two cities, Antioch and Pittsburg, arresting Andrews and booking him into jail on suspicion of homicide.

Andrews appeared in court for an extradition hearing on Oct. 20 and he was supposed to be extradited to King County Jail in Seattle to face homicide charges.

Just two days after his court appearance, Andrews was erroneously set free from jail. The inmate was supposed to be held in custody without bail, court records show.

The sheriff's office has not explained what caused the mistaken release. Officials did not alert the media and public about Andrews' release until Monday, five days after he slipped away.

U.S. Marshals Service authorities were still searching for the missing inmate as of Tuesday. The sheriff's office said it's investigating what went wrong at the jail.

Anyone with information on Andrews’ whereabouts is asked to contact police.