The two Avoyelles Parish corrections officers who were negligent in their duties allowing three prisoners to escape in March have been fired.

Sheriff's Maj. Steve Martel said the two deputies, whose names were not released, were being investigated in connection with the escape, but a lot of their investigation hinges on the ability to interview the three men who are still being housed in Florida for the serious charges there.

At this point, the officers aren't being investigated for criminal wrongdoing. They were fired for failing to follow policy and procedure in place at the jail.

"The policies that we had in place were adequate," Martel said. "It was unfortunate that these individuals chose to not follow policy. There have been some other security issues that were addressed, and security has been stepped up and handled as a result of all this happening."

The three captured Avoyelles Parish Jail escapees stole a vehicle in Cocoville, then went on a crime spree from Marksville to Miami, where they were indicted for murder of a Florida State University graduate student.

The three captured escapees -- Kentrell F. Johnson, 39, of Marksville; Quentin M. Truehill, 22, of New Orleans and Peter Hughes, 22, of Abbeville -- have been charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in connection with the death of Vincent Binder in Tallahassee, Fla.

Avoyelles Parish Sheriff Doug Anderson said the three escaped from the jail around 1:40 a.m. March 30 after Truehill forced a correctional officer at knifepoint to open a door.

Anderson said the door to a disciplinary holding cell was opened by the jailer to provide water to the inmates when Truehill pulled a handmade knife and held it to the throat of the officer.

Truehill threatened to kill the officer if he didn't open a nearby access door. As the officer began to comply with Truehill's demands, another officer attempted to intervene and was cut on the hand.