The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office has launched a manhunt for James Edward Daniels, a 60-year-old man convicted in a double murder case, after he was accidentally released from jail due to a clerical error. Daniels was one of the men sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal killings of two truckers in December 2020. According to NBC Miami, the victims, Osmar Oliva and Johan Gonzalez Quesada, were found tied up and shot to death in an abandoned home's yard after being kidnapped and tortured.
The erroneous release occurred over the past weekend, and the sheriff's department was made aware of the mistake shortly after. The department issued a statement yesterday announcing their cooperation with federal authorities in the search for Daniels. The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office has warned the public that Daniels, who went by the nickname "45," is considered to be armed and dangerous.
WANTED: James Edward Daniels was already charged and in custody for double murder. We are now assisting our federal partners in locating him, after being informed that he should not have been released from jail. pic.twitter.com/SejIPb8UVI
— Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (@MiamiDade_SO) September 29, 2025
A spokesperson for Miami-Dade Corrections attributed the release to a "procedural error" and emphasized that "The top priority of MDCR is to ensure his swift apprehension and safe return to custody. All available resources are being utilized, including the assistance of our local and federal law enforcement partners," as noted by NBC Miami.
The case which led to Daniels's conviction involved the kidnap and murder of truckers, Oliva and Gonzalez Quesada, as well as a third victim who miraculously survived despite critical injuries. The truckers were tortured for hours and subsequently killed, with their possessions, including drugs and jewelry, stolen. Frederick Eugene Rudolph, Daniels's accomplice, was also convicted for these murders, and Herbert Barr, another defendant, pleaded guilty to kidnapping, for which he was sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison.
Daniels and Rudolph were found guilty last December and both received a life sentence earlier this year. The seriousness of the crime is underscored by the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office calling upon all resources for Daniels's recapture, including local and federal law enforcement assistance. A full internal affairs investigation is underway to review the circumstances surrounding this incident and any potential failures to follow departmental policy. MDCR is committed to ensuring that those responsible for failing to follow policy are held accountable to the fullest extent possible," spokesperson Juan Diasgranados said in a statement obtained by NBC Miami. The public is urged to report any information they might have regarding the whereabouts of Daniels by contacting the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office at 305-471-2400.
