A South Carolina inmate managed to escape from jail in an unusual breakout after allegedly using a pencil to manipulate the locking mechanism on his cell door.
Charles Alexander Dieterich escaped from a detention facility in Chesterfield, South Carolina, after surveillance footage reportedly showed him sliding his cell door open and making his way through the building.
According to officials, Dieterich was able to tamper with the door lock using a pencil before leaving the housing area. After getting out of his cell, he reportedly moved through the jail’s kitchen area and eventually reached an unlocked door.
The exit is normally used by kitchen employees and jail trustees when taking trash outside, authorities said.
Once outside the building, Dieterich’s escape attempt became even more dramatic. He reportedly climbed over the jail’s fencing and managed to get across barbed wire before completely leaving the secured property.
His freedom, however, did not last long.
Deputies immediately launched a search after discovering the escape and quickly located Dieterich on a nearby road. He was taken back into custody and returned to the facility without the situation developing into a lengthy manhunt.
An inmate escaped his jail cell using a pencil to manipulate the door's lock in Chesterfield, South Carolina.
Charles Alexander Dieterich was caught on camera sliding the cell door open before he moved through the kitchen and walked outside through an unlocked door normally used… pic.twitter.com/CPznpuOjOE
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 17, 2026
The incident has now raised questions about the security of the cell-door locking system and how an inmate was allegedly able to defeat it with such a simple object.
Officials said the housing section involved in the escape will remain under direct supervision while authorities conduct a further evaluation of the locking mechanism.
The facility is expected to review the circumstances surrounding the unlocked kitchen exit as well as other security measures connected to the escape.
What began as an unusual attempt involving nothing more than a pencil ultimately ended with Dieterich back behind bars shortly after getting outside the jail.
