Manhunt Narrows for Final Two Escapees from New Orleans Jailbreak

NEW ORLEANS, La. — As of May 28, 2025, authorities continue their relentless pursuit of two remaining fugitives from a daring escape involving 10 inmates at the Orleans Parish Justice Center on May 16, 2025. Eight of the escapees have been recaptured, but Antoine Massey, 32, and Derrick Groves, 27, remain at large, prompting a multi-agency manhunt across Louisiana and neighboring states.

The escape, described as one of the largest jailbreaks in Louisiana history, occurred in the early hours of May 16 when the inmates exploited security lapses at the Orleans Parish Justice Center. Surveillance footage revealed the group forcing open a cell door, removing a metal toilet, and crawling through a hole carved in the wall. They left behind taunting messages, including “To Easy LOL,” before scaling a barbed-wire fence using blankets and fleeing across Interstate 10. The breakout went unnoticed for nearly eight hours until a routine headcount at 8:30 a.m. revealed their absence, sparking widespread criticism of the jail’s security protocols.

Since the escape, law enforcement has made significant progress. The first recapture occurred on May 16, when Kendell Myles, 20, was apprehended in the French Quarter after hiding in a hotel parking garage. Robert Moody, 21, and Dkenan Dennis, 24, were also detained that day in New Orleans’ Central City and Chef Highway areas, respectively. On May 19, Gary Price, 21, charged with first-degree murder, was found in a vacant home in New Orleans East. Corey Boyd, 19, was captured on May 20 in a Treme apartment complex. On May 26, Lenton Vanburen, 26, was arrested in Baton Rouge, while Jermaine Donald, 42, and Leo Tate, 31, were apprehended in Walker County, Texas, after a high-speed chase.

The remaining fugitives, Massey and Groves, are considered armed and dangerous. Massey faces charges of domestic abuse involving strangulation and theft, with a prior escape from Morehouse Detention Center in 2019. Groves, recently convicted of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder for a 2018 Mardi Gras shooting, faces a life sentence. Authorities warn that both may have support networks aiding their evasion.

The investigation has uncovered evidence of internal complicity. Sterling Williams, a 33-year-old maintenance worker, was arrested on May 20 for allegedly shutting off water to the cell’s toilet, facilitating the escape after being threatened by Massey. Williams faces 10 counts of principal to simple escape and one count of malfeasance in office. Thirteen others, including another inmate and several civilians, have been charged with aiding the escapees before and after the breakout. Three jail employees have been suspended without pay, and the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections is conducting an audit of the facility, which has been under federal scrutiny since 2013 for issues like understaffing and inadequate supervision.

Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson has faced intense scrutiny, pausing her reelection campaign to focus on restoring public trust. At a contentious City Council meeting, she acknowledged “procedural failures and intentional wrongdoings” within her agency. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry called the escape a “failure in the jail system,” and District Attorney Jason Williams criticized the lack of a prompt crime scene investigation, suggesting it hindered early captures.

The FBI is offering $10,000 per inmate for information leading to their capture, supplemented by $5,000 from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and $5,000 from Crime Stoppers, totaling $20,000 per fugitive. Authorities urge the public to report tips to Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or 911 for emergencies, emphasizing that the escapees should not be approached.

As the manhunt enters its second week, New Orleans remains on edge, with law enforcement vowing to bring Massey and Groves to justice. “We will follow any investigative leads no matter where they take us,” said Lt. Mindi MacHauer Keith of the Louisiana State Police.

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