Ritzville, WA – A Washington courtroom became the scene of a real-life vanishing act when John Michael Daigneault, on trial for burglary, failed to return after a lunch recess. The jury, undeterred by his absence, deliberated and found Daigneault guilty for the burglary that took place a few months ago on the 1900 Block of Highway 21 near Odessa.
According to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Daigneault slipped away from the Ritzville Superior Court, prompting the presiding judge to issue an arrest warrant. The trial, which had been unfolding over the past two days, reached its conclusion without the defendant, leaving the court and the community in a state of disbelief.
The Superior Court Judge issued an immediate arrest warrant post-verdict, as efforts to locate Daigneault intensified. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office is calling on the public to aid in the search and provide any information to assist in the swift apprehension of the now-convicted burglar.
