# Drone Footage Captures Escaped Inmate's Capture

> Michigan police use thermal drone to catch escaped inmate Casie Jo Helsel after 43-second chase.
- Title: Drone Footage Captures Escaped Inmate's Capture | Shortify
- Summary: Michigan police use thermal drone to catch escaped inmate Casie Jo Helsel after 43-second chase. Casie Jo Helsel, 44, was captured by police in Grayling…
- Keywords: casie jo helsel, crawford county jail, grayling, michigan state police, thermal drone, escape, police capture, news, entertainment, Drone, Footage, Captures
- Source: New York Post — https://nypost.com/2026/10/28/us-news/drone-footage-captures-wild-moment-escaped-prison-inmate-is-caught-by-police-we-got-him
- Published: 2026-10-28T04:49:53+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: casie jo helsel, crawford county jail, grayling, michigan state police, thermal drone, escape, police capture, news, entertainment
## Escaped Inmate
Casie Jo Helsel, 44, broke out of Crawford County Jail in Grayling, Michigan at 1:30 p.m. Monday.
## Escape Details
Investigators believe Helsel ditched his orange prison jumpsuit and was last seen in white underwear.
## Manhunt Begins
Michigan State Police used thermal drone to track Helsel down in nearby swampland after hours on the run.
## Drone Footage
A 43-second clip shows officers and K-9 units tracking Helsel through wooded areas using thermal technology.

> he’s ran on us several times and his m.o. is to hunker down, whether it be in the water, under a dock or on a stream on the edge and just wait ‘til night
## Capture
Ground teams located Helsel hiding beneath wood and debris in Grayling Country Club swamp just before 4 p.m.

> we got him we got him
## Aftermath
Sheriff’s office confirmed Helsel was captured less than two-and-a-half hours after breaking out of jail.
## Key takeaway

Casie Jo Helsel, 44, was captured by police in Grayling swamp less than two-and-a-half hours after breaking out of Crawford County Jail.