A second inmate has escaped custody at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport within three months, following a similar incident in May. John Nino, 20, removed his wrist restraints and fled toward Highway 99, prompting authorities to urge the public to report any sightings. Nino, who had a prior robbery conviction, was en route to Washington state custody after being arrested in New Mexico when he slipped away.
Surveillance footage from the Washington Department of Corrections (DOC) showed Nino appearing to remove his restraints before bolting. The DOC warned that if anyone spots him, they should not approach and call 911 immediately. Authorities are conducting a critical incident review to determine how the escape occurred and assess any potential changes to transport protocols. This incident marks the second time in under 100 days that an inmate has escaped from the airport, raising concerns about security measures in place for detainees.
Nino, who is 6-foot-2 and 154 pounds, was under community supervision for a second-degree robbery conviction in Thurston County. The DOC issued a warrant for his arrest in June after he failed to meet with his community corrections officer. Nino was arrested several days ago in New Mexico and was being returned to Washington state custody when he slipped away.
In May, inmate Sedrick T. Stevenson escaped from Sea-Tac while being transported to Kentucky in a case not handled by the DOC, the department clarified in an email to Fox News Digital. Stevenson ran through the terminal, boarded the light rail and remained at large for over a month before his June capture. FOX 13 Seattle, which has closely tracked both incidents, noted this is the second such escape from Sea-Tac in under 100 days.
Authorities say DOC officers and local law enforcement are involved in the search for Nino. It’s unclear if Sound Transit security is assisting. Despite an immediate search near the light rail station Tuesday night, he has not yet been found. The DOC has not said whether any changes have yet been made to transport protocols. In an email to Fox News Digital, DOC officials said it is