Murderer arraigned on escape charge

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - When Jonathan Good was captured by Romulus police Sunday afternoon, everything he had in his possession was stolen from an off-campus house near Ferris State University.

On Monday, he was arraigned for escape while awaiting trial for a felony. That's a four-year charge, but since he is a habitual offender, the prosecuting attorney said Good may face an extra 15 years. Bond was denied.

The Big Rapids Department of Public Safety told 24 Hour News 8 Good stole a debit card, an insurance card, clothes and a cell phone from a house where a group of fraternity brothers live. The 10-bedroom house was empty as they were gone for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Deputies believe after Good escaped from the Mecosta County Jail, he hid out in Big Rapids in that house only blocks from the jail, then stole a car and made his way south.

Detective Brian Miller said Good also stopped in Dewitt, in Clinton County, to visit a woman and to "proclaim his innocence." Miller said Good was on his way to Taylor, outside Detroit, to see his brother and aunt, but was stopped and arrested in Romulus.

Good, who escaped last week from the Mecosta County Jail before being captured Sunday, stole a car that the keys were inside.

Good stole the car from the Big Rapids area, headed south and stopped in DeWitt, according to Mecosta County Sheriff John Sonntag.

He was captured without incident in Romulus. Sonntag said Good surrendered willingly. "Mr. Good stepped out, laid out on the ground spread eagle, and said 'I'm tired of running.'"

Good escaped through a skylight in the Mecosta County Jail. Sonntag said he’s sending a warning to other jails across the country to alert them of what and how Good escaped through the skylight.

Sonntag said it appears there were major flaws with the fiberglass in the skylights through which Good escaped. "We went up and grabbed ahold of the fiberglass, and it just fell apart," he said.

As the investigation continues, Sonntag said everyone Good knows is talking with investigators.

"There's no honor among thieves and killers, there really isn't," Sonntag told 24 Hour News 8. "If you can get your time in jail less, you're going to talk, and that's what happened. He has nothing. He has no friends and no one is backing him. he is isolated."