Convicted murderer apprehended after escape from federal custody in Utah
Feb 27, 2026, 3:05 PM
A Utah man convicted of murder, aggravated sexual assault and fraud, among several other crimes, has been apprehended after failing to return to a federal halfway house in Salt Lake City last month. (Utah Department of Corrections)
(Utah Department of Corrections)
SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah man convicted of murder, aggravated sexual assault and fraud, among several other crimes, has been apprehended after failing to return to a federal halfway house in Salt Lake City last month.
Frank Gene Powell, 57, is now in custody, Utah’s Department of Corrections confirmed. Powell was previously listed as “escaped” in the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ online inmate locator as of Jan. 16, 2026.
(Utah Department of Corrections)
A warrant for his arrest was issued by Utah’s parole board on Jan. 30, 2026, but the bureau did not alert the public about Powell’s fugitive status despite his lengthy and violent criminal history.
Powell’s arrest comes after the KSL Investigators first reported on his fugitive status Monday.
KSL has requested information about the circumstances surrounding Powell’s arrest from the U.S. Marshals Service, as well as information about the agency’s policy for alerting the public about fugitives and is waiting to hear back.
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This is a developing story, please check back for updates.
