ASHEVILLE, N.C. —

An internal investigation is underway after an inmate at the Buncombe County Detention Facility briefly escaped.

The Buncombe County Sheriff's Office said that Jennifer Richards escaped from the detention facility around 9:20 a.m. Wednesday. She was taken back into custody near South French Broad Avenue about 50 minutes after her escape.

According to officials, Richards was initially booked into the jail on Sunday for possessing drug paraphernalia and resisting a public officer.

Richards is now facing the following charges:

Escape

Second-degree trespass

A second count of resisting a public officer

Larceny

Authorities have not revealed how Richards escaped the facility at this time.

"The security of the Buncombe County Detention Facility and the safety of our det

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