In a shocking incident, ten men successfully broke out of a New Orleans jail on Friday, executing an audacious escape that involved fleeing through a hole behind a toilet and scaling a wall while the only guard assigned to their cell pod was away retrieving food. According to authorities, seven of the escapees, including individuals charged with serious offenses such as murder, remain at large following the breakout. The local sheriff suspects that some members within the department may have aided in the escape.
Surveillance footage released during a news conference depicted the escapees sprinting from the facility, some dressed in orange clothing while others wore white. They managed to scale a fence, utilizing blankets to protect themselves from the barbed wire, and were last seen running across a nearby interstate and into a residential area. A photograph obtained by The Associated Press illustrates the opening behind the toilet from which the men escaped, with graffiti above the hole reading, “To Easy LoL,” accompanied by an arrow pointing toward the gap.
The absence of the ten escapees went unnoticed for several hours, and it was only during a routine morning headcount, over seven hours later, that law enforcement discovered the breakout. Officials from the sheriff’s office stated that no deputy was present in the pod where the fugitives were held. Instead, a civilian technician was monitoring the area but had stepped away to get food.
Shortly after the escape, one of the fugitives, Kendall Myles, a 20-year-old with a history of prior escapes from juvenile detention centers, was apprehended following a brief foot chase through the French Quarter. By Friday evening, two more escapees were captured: Robert Moody, 21, who was located in New Orleans thanks to a tip from Crimestoppers, and Dkenan Dennis, who was found near Chef Menteur Highway, as announced by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill on the social media platform X.
Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson revealed that the escapees exploited “defective locks” to exit the Orleans Justice Center. She emphasized that she had consistently raised concerns regarding the locks and had recently advocated for funding to address the facility's deteriorating infrastructure. Hutson indicated that there are signs suggesting that individuals within her department may have assisted the fugitives in their escape, stating, “It’s almost impossible, not completely, but almost impossible for anybody to get out of this facility without help.”
The escapees gained access to the cell with the hole around 1 a.m., yanking open a door. At least one of the steel bars protecting the plumbing fixtures appeared to have been intentionally cut with a tool, according to the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office. Once outside the facility, the men discarded their jail uniforms, and it remains unclear how they quickly acquired civilian clothing.
Authorities only realized the men were missing by 8:30 a.m. Initially, it was reported that eleven had escaped, but later updates corrected the number to ten. Three employees have been suspended pending an investigation; however, it is unclear if the guard who left to get food is among those suspended.
The escapees' ages range from 19 to 42, with the majority being in their 20s. Notably, Derrick Groves, one of the fugitives, was convicted on two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder related to the 2018 Mardi Gras Day shootings. Another escapee, Corey Boyd, has pleaded not guilty to a pending second-degree murder charge.
Law enforcement is currently collaborating with local, state, and federal agencies to locate the remaining fugitives. Utilizing facial recognition technology, a nonprofit organization called Project NOLA successfully identified and captured one fugitive, as two were seen walking openly in the French Quarter. However, another escapee managed to evade the cameras’ sight.
Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams criticized the sheriff’s office for what he termed a “complete failure” in their responsibilities, highlighting the significant delay in notifying authorities and the public about the escape. Louisiana Attorney General Murrill echoed these sentiments, labeling the incident as “beyond unacceptable” and emphasizing the urgent need for improved communication.
For over a decade, New Orleans’ jail has been under federal monitoring due to ongoing issues with safety and security. Despite the opening of the Orleans Justice Center in 2015, security problems and violence have persisted. A federal judge had previously declared the facility an unconstitutional environment for inmates. Sheriff Hutson noted that staff at the facility are “stretched thin,” operating at around 60% capacity, while financial constraints hinder necessary maintenance and repairs.
As the search continues for the remaining escapees, local authorities remain vigilant, warning anyone who may be assisting the fugitives that they will face legal repercussions. The urgency of the situation underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the New Orleans jail system and the imperative need for reform.
