Additional Coverage:
- Busted doors, cut bars, and a hole behind the toilet: Everything we know about 10 inmates who escaped Louisiana jail (the-independent.com)
New Orleans Jailbreak: 8 Inmates Still at Large
A massive manhunt is underway in New Orleans following the escape of 10 inmates from the Orleans Justice Center early Friday morning. Two escapees have been apprehended, but eight remain at large, prompting a multi-agency search involving hundreds of law enforcement officials.
The escape has sparked controversy and raised serious questions about security at the facility. Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson expressed suspicion of inside assistance, stating, “There is much more than meets the eye to this investigation.” Three Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office employees have been suspended pending an internal investigation.
The escapees, identified as Antoine Massey, Lenton Vanburen, Leo Tate, Kendell Myles, Derrick Groves, Jermaine Donald, Corey Boyd, Gary Price, Robert Moody, and Dkenan Dennis, exploited a series of security failures to make their getaway.
The inmates reportedly dislodged a sliding cell door, then removed bathroom fixtures to access and cut through bars concealed behind a wall. Using blankets, they scaled a security wall at the jail’s loading bay and fled across Interstate 10. Authorities believe the removal of the fixtures and cutting of the bars suggests the inmates had tools and likely inside help.
Two of the escapees have been apprehended. Kendell Myles was discovered hiding under a car in the French Quarter, while Robert Moody was captured later Friday evening.
The remaining eight are considered armed and dangerous. The public is urged not to approach them and to contact 911 immediately with any information.
Sheriff Hutson cited “defective locks and doors” and numerous inoperable security cameras, including three in the escapees’ unit, as contributing factors to the incident. She emphasized the need for $5 million in infrastructure upgrades and highlighted the jail’s understaffing at the time of the escape. Reports indicate the guard assigned to the pod had left for a meal break.
Former Sheriff Marlin Gusman disputed claims of disrepair, accusing Sheriff Hutson of playing “the blame game.” However, a 2023 report revealed concerns about supervision, inmate violence, overdoses, and excessive force at the facility.
Adding to the controversy, state officials criticized the Sheriff’s office for delays in notifying law enforcement and the public. Sheriff Hutson stated she learned of the escape after a headcount at 8:30 a.m., while New Orleans Police Chief Anna Kirkpatrick reported being informed around 10:30 a.m.
The Sheriff’s office maintains other agencies were notified earlier. The incident has sparked an investigation into the timeline of events and communication procedures.