Manhunt Continues for 5 Escaped Inmates from New Orleans Prison 10 days later...

NEW ORLEANS, LA — A daring escape from the Orleans Parish Justice Center on May 16, 2025, has left authorities scrambling to recapture five remaining fugitives from a group of ten inmates who fled through a hole behind a toilet. The breakout, described as potentially the largest in Louisiana’s history, has exposed significant security lapses and prompted state-led investigations into the troubled facility.

The escape occurred around 12:23 a.m. when the inmates, exploiting defective cell door locks, pried open a sliding door, removed a toilet-sink unit, and cut through metal bars to access a plumbing area. They exited via a loading dock, leaving taunting graffiti such as “To Easy LoL” and “We Innocent” on the cell walls. Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson has acknowledged that the escape was likely facilitated by internal assistance, stating, “It’s almost impossible for anybody to get out of this facility without help.”

As of May 25, five inmates have been recaptured: Kendell Myles, Robert Moody, Dkenan Dennis, Gary Price, and Corey Boyd. Myles was apprehended in the French Quarter using facial recognition technology, while Price was captured in New Orleans East. The remaining fugitives - Lenton Vanburen Jr., Jermaine Donald, Antoine Massey, Derrick Groves, and Leo Tate Sr. - are considered armed and dangerous. Massey has a prior escape history from 2019, and Groves, recently convicted of second-degree murder, faces life without parole. Rewards of $20,000 per fugitive have been offered for information leading to their capture.

Investigations have revealed multiple security failures. Sterling Williams, a 33-year-old maintenance worker, was arrested on May 20 and charged with 10 counts of principal to simple escape and malfeasance in office for allegedly turning off the water to the cell, enabling the toilet’s removal. Williams claimed he was threatened with a makeshift knife by inmate Antoine Massey. Four other jail employees have been suspended, and three cameras in the unit were reportedly offline during the escape. A jail employee who witnessed the escape on surveillance failed to report it, further complicating the response.

The breakout has intensified scrutiny on Sheriff Hutson, who suspended her reelection campaign amid calls for her resignation. Governor Jeff Landry has ordered an audit of the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office and issued executive orders targeting jail operations, blaming a “progressive criminal justice system” for the vulnerabilities. District Attorney Jason Williams criticized the Sheriff’s Office for delaying public notification by eight hours, hindering the manhunt. The Orleans Parish jail, under a federal consent decree since 2013 for poor conditions, has faced ongoing issues with staffing shortages and infrastructure.

Two women, Casey Smith and another unnamed individual, were arrested on May 21 for allegedly aiding the escapees, charged as accessories after the fact. Additionally, an inmate not among the escapees faces charges for assisting in the breakout. The New Orleans City Council and state officials are pressing for answers, with a forensic investigation underway to examine the cell and jail operations.

The manhunt, involving over 200 officers from local, state, and federal agencies, continues to focus on the New Orleans area, though authorities warn the fugitives may have left the state with help from family or friends. NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick urged the public to remain vigilant, emphasizing that anyone assisting the escapees will face prosecution.

The jailbreak has heightened fear among residents and victims’ families, with some, including prosecutors involved in Groves’ case, fleeing the state for safety. As the search enters its second week, authorities remain confident in recapturing the fugitives but warn the process could take weeks or months.

17GEN4.com

17GEN4 News