Fled NYC prisoner Yenchun, found sleeping on friend’s sofa a month later.

NYC Inmate Yenchun Chen Captured After Month-Long Escape

Yenchun Chen, a 44-year-old inmate who had managed a daring escape from Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in New York City, was finally apprehended after being on the run for a month. Chen, weighing 250 pounds and standing at 6 feet 3 inches, had escaped on August 9th by using bedsheets to rappel from a fifth-floor window.

Escape from Hospital Custody

Chen’s escape occurred while he was under Department of Corrections custody inside Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center. He had been admitted to the hospital due to cardiac issues, and on August 9th, while supposed to be taking a shower, he utilized tied-together bedsheets to make his daring escape.

Fugitive’s Journey

Following his escape, Chen managed to hitch a ride to New Jersey in a yellow taxi and then disappeared. He ventured to Virginia, where he had family and friends, before returning to Queens, New York. During his time on the run, he found refuge by couch-surfing at various friends’ residences.

Captured in Queens

On Tuesday morning, authorities located Yenchun Chen sleeping on a friend’s couch in a second-floor apartment on 45th Avenue in Flushing, Queens. Remarkably close to his own address in Long Island City, the exact circumstances leading to his capture remain unclear. Chen was found to be in a severely injured state, with bruising on his ribs from the fall during his escape.

Initial Arrest and Court Date

Chen had initially been arrested on July 31 for criminal possession of a controlled substance and was awaiting his court date, scheduled for later in the month. His escape from custody in August led to a massive manhunt across multiple states.

Hospital Staff Shocked

Hospital staff were taken aback by Chen’s escape, with one nurse expressing her astonishment at a prisoner managing to flee through a window. The escape raised questions about security measures within the hospital.

Yenchun Chen’s audacious escape and subsequent capture mark an extraordinary episode in the world of criminal justice.