Woman gains escape from Tulsa Jail by impersonating fellow inmate

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Authorities were looking Tuesday night for a female inmate who got out of the Tulsa Jail by impersonating a fellow prisoner.

Brenda Wheeler, 41, used the armband identification bracelet of fellow inmate Cynthia Parent, 32, to gain her release from the jail at about 8:25 p.m. Monday, said Raye Carnes, a Corrections Corporation of America spokeswoman.

Carnes said Wheeler and Parent look alike and that Wheeler fooled jailers by correctly answering questions about Parent's identity, such as her Social Security number.

"Approximately an hour after the release, Parent came up to the officers and said she had been asleep and she was supposed to be released," Carnes said. "The investigation was started then."

Wheeler had been jailed since Oct. 11 on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle and obtaining merchandise with a stolen check.

Parent has been jailed since Monday on a complaint of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled drug, but was allowed to post bail.

Jailers released Parent after they discovered the mistake.

"We have had attempts at this before, but we have always caught them at the release area. This is the first time someone has been successful," Carnes said.