MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Jodie Pope, 24, is facing charges after authorities say he escaped from Shelby County Penal Farm custody.

His children’s mother, Keyshona Weathersby, is also facing charges after police say she helped him.

“That’s kind of crazy. That’s wild.”

Marcellus Jackson was surprised to hear an escaped Shelby County inmate was hiding out near where he lives in Raleigh.

“How can you just be on the run like that?” Jackson asked.

Authorities say Jodie Pope was found at Motel 6 on Old Austin Peay Highway after walking away from a prison work program.

“You’ve got a number of people out working. All of a sudden, someone steps behind a bush. If there’s a car waiting for them immediately, then they’re gone before you turn around,” said Earle Farrell, spokesperson with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities said they were told Pope had been talking to his girlfriend, 21-year-old Weathersby, before walking away.

They were able to track her down to renting a room on the fourth floor at the motel.

She and Pope were found inside Wednesday morning.

Authorities said the couple’s two young children, ages two and three, were also in the room with them.

They’ve since been turned over to a relative.

Pope had been serving time since August for a robbery conviction. He`s now facing new charges for escaping, which can carry another year or two in prison.

“He deserves what he got really, because he tried to flee from them. He did something wrong, so you got to pay for what you did,” Jackson said.

Weathersby is charged with being an accessory after the fact. She’s out of custody on $1,000 bond.

The Sheriff’s Office says only non-violent offenders are allowed in the work programs, and escapes don’t happen often.

“The results of the escape will be his own testimony to other inmates to not do it,” Farrell said.