PORTLAND, Ore. — Authorities say a murder suspect who was mistakenly released from jail earlier this week has been taken back into custody after a multi-day manhunt that stretched across Oregon.
Mistaken Release Sparks Outrage
Ty Anthony Sage, 26, was accidentally released Monday from the Multnomah County Detention Center after posting bail — a decision Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell later called a “monumental mistake.”
“Ty Sage should never have been able to post bail,” O’Donnell said in a press release. “Lowgunn’s family deserved better.”
Also Read
Sage faces second-degree murder and first-degree robbery charges in connection with the 2021 killing of 15-year-old Lowgunn Ivey. He and co-defendant Kevin Rivas-Ramirez, 26, were arrested in May.
Recaptured in Florence
On Thursday around 1 p.m., Sage was arrested at a gas station off Highway 101 in Florence, roughly 180 miles from Portland. The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force assisted with the arrest, according to the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff O’Donnell said the successful capture brought relief but did not erase the harm caused. “As Multnomah County’s sheriff, I am committed to making sure this does not happen again, that we learn from our mistakes, and that Lowgunn’s family can have justice.”
Error in Court and Jail System
According to FOX 12, Sage appeared for a hearing last Wednesday. The judge issued a ruling the next day denying bail. However, a Sept. 17 release form listed Sage’s bail at $5,000, allowing him to walk free — in direct violation of the court order.
A preliminary review suggested a clerical misinterpretation within the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) regarding the judge’s ruling. Officials said employees acted in “good faith” and sought clarification, but the error still resulted in Sage’s release.
O’Donnell vowed to use the incident to improve administrative processes, saying, “This should never have happened.”
Family’s Frustration
The victim’s mother, Jodie Ramsey, expressed anguish at the news of Sage’s mistaken release and anger toward the county for what she called a breach of public safety.
“I feel like they failed me,” Ramsey said. “They failed the community as well, not just me, but everybody else’s safety out there too, because he’s an accused child killer. There’s no saying what he could do to anybody out there.”
Although relieved Sage is back in custody, Ramsey said the ordeal forced her to relive painful memories. “Having to open some wounds that haven’t quite healed yet — that’s killing me, I think,” she said.
Ramsey is reportedly considering a lawsuit against the county.
Looking Ahead
The sheriff’s office has launched an internal review into the release and pledged to implement safeguards to prevent similar incidents. For now, Sage remains in custody awaiting trial, and the community awaits answers on how such a critical failure occurred.
