Nine inmates still at large after escape from New Orleans jail
A citywide manhunt is underway in New Orleans after 10 inmates — including four facing murder charges —escaped from the county jail. Authorities captured two inmates and eight remain at large.
Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson said the inmates appeared to receive help from people “inside of our department.” Officials with the Orleans Parish Justice Center said three employees with the Orleans Parish Sheriffs Department were placed on administrative leave pending the investigation into the escape. “It’s almost impossible for anybody to get out of this facility without help,” Hutson said.
The inmates were believed to have escaped shortly after midnight, New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said. But about eight hours passed before jailers realized the inmates were missing during a routine headcount at 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 16.
“The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office is putting the public on alert as deputies and partner agencies are searching for detainees who escaped custody,” the sheriff’s department posted on Facebook.
Photos released by the sheriff’s office show a possible exit route from inside a jail cell, where a hole was dug out of a wall behind a toilet. Messages written on the wall included “We innocent,” “To (sic) easy lol,” and “Catch us when you can.” Deputies said they believe the inmates dug the hole and escaped through the wall.
The sheriffs office also released video of the detainees showing them exiting the jail through a door at approximately 1:01 a.m., scaling a wall and running across the interstate shortly after. Video surveillance confirms that they exited through a door in the docks where supplies are brought into the jail.
One inmate recaptured; manhunt ongoing
The 10 escaped inmates were identified as Corey Boyd, Dkenan Dennis, Jermaine Donald, Derrick Groves, Antoine Massey, Robert Moody, Kendell Myles, Gary Price, Leo Tate and Lenton Vanburen. Authorities initially believed 11 inmates had escaped, but one was later found in a different cell during the search.
Deputies located and recaptured Myles, who was hiding beneath a car in a hotel parking garage in the French Quarter late Friday morning. Myles has since been charged with simple escape. Based on public records from Orleans Parish, Myles was previously charged with second-degree murder.
The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office also announced Friday night that authorities re-captured Robert Moody and he was being returned to custody.
Louisiana State Police and the New Orleans Police Department are assisting in the search for the remaining escapees.
“If you recognize anyone pictured, do not approach — they may be armed & dangerous,” New Orleans police posted on X. “Anyone helping these escapees will be arrested & charged as an accomplice.”
The sheriff’s office said it is launching a full investigation into how the escape happened and anyone responsible for the lapse in security will be held accountable.
Sheriff’s office notes security flaws
In a Friday night press release, the Orleans Sheriff’s Office said the escaped inmates exposed major security flaws at the Orleans Justice Center (OJC), including broken cell locks, non-working security cameras, and staffing shortages. The detainees had been moved to a compromised unit due to renovations in their original unit, where new locks were being installed. These issues made it difficult to maintain proper security.
“We are committed to ensuring that the necessary repairs are made to restore full functionality to the facility and to improve the overall safety and security of both detainees and staff,” the press release stated.
Editor’s note: Since its initial publication, this story’s image has been updated at 5:23 p.m. to correctly reflect the suspects noted in police reports. Straight Arrow News sincerely regrets the error.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
