Townsville Correctional Centre farm escapees captured after overnight manhunt

Two inmates who escaped from Townsville’s low-security prison farm have now been captured and charged following an overnight manhunt.

Two inmates Johnathon Joseph Barry, 21, and John William Zaro, 35, escaped from Townsville Correctional Centre’s low custody farm on 7 May 2025. Photos: QCS

Two inmates who escaped from Townsville’s low-security prison farm have now been captured and charged following an overnight manhunt.

Johnathon Joseph Barry, 21, and John William Zaro, 35, were both taken into custody at separate locations on Wednesday after allegedly fleeing from the Townsville Correctional Centre (low custody male farm) on the night of May 7.

Barry was serving two years and five months for common assault.

He has since been charged with one count of escape by a person in lawful custody and is due to appear in the Townsville Magistrates Court on May 8.

Zaro, who was serving four months for breaching a restraining order, has been charged with escape from lawful custody and an additional offence. He is also set to appear in court on May 8.

Sources inside the jail said despite the farm being fully staffed at the time the pair managed to slip away undetected sometime between the 11.30pm and 2.30am headcounts.

Their escape triggered an extensive hours long police search on Wednesday.

Queensland Corrective Services is expected to review how the breakout occurred.

The Townsville Correctional Centre. Picture: Evan Morgan

Got information? Contact Policelink at police.qld.gov.au/reporting or ring 131 444.

Want to stay anonymous? Reach Crime Stoppers anytime on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersqld.gov.au.

Originally published as Townsville Correctional Centre farm escapees captured after overnight manhunt