A maintenance worker at a New Orleans jail has been arrested and is currently held on a staggering $1.1 million bond after confessing to assisting in one of the largest jailbreaks in recent U.S. history. The worker, Sterling Williams, admitted to turning off the water supply to a toilet that concealed a hole in a cell wall, enabling ten inmates to escape early Friday morning.
The inmates executed their escape by forcibly opening a faulty cell door, removing a sink-toilet combination unit, and cutting through steel bars behind the sink. They then managed to slip through the hole created in the wall. Graffiti found at the scene included the phrase "To Easy LoL," along with an arrow pointing to the escape route. This incident has brought to light serious security lapses within the facility, including ineffective locking mechanisms and a notable absence of monitoring due to the only guard on duty leaving to get food.
During a tense meeting of the New Orleans City Council, Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson spoke candidly about the escape, taking “full accountability” for the incident. She acknowledged that there were procedural failures and emphasized that the jailbreak was a coordinated effort involving individuals within her agency. “This was a coordinated effort aided by individuals inside our own agency who made the choice to break the law,” Hutson stated. Currently, four of the escapees have been apprehended, while six remain at large.
Sterling Williams, 33, is facing multiple charges, including ten counts of principle to simple escape and one count of malfeasance in office. He is being held at a detention center in a different parish and made his court appearance via Zoom, represented by a public defender. Williams confessed that he turned off the water under threat from one of the escapees, who indicated he would harm him if he did not comply.
Attorney General Liz Murrill criticized Williams for not reporting the threats and escape plans, highlighting the need for a safer environment for jail staff. Councilmember Oliver Thomas echoed these sentiments, stating, “We cannot allow the inmates to run the facilities. That can’t happen.” The affidavit regarding Williams’ actions suggests that his assistance was crucial in preventing the inmates from triggering a flood that would have alerted authorities to their escape.
As the investigation continues, authorities have suspended three other staff members and hinted that further arrests could follow. No additional charges have been filed against other employees yet, but the ongoing inquiry suggests that more individuals may be implicated in this significant security breach.
The timeline of the escape has raised eyebrows, particularly the hourslong delay in reporting it to law enforcement. A headcount of inmates, which typically begins around 6:30 a.m., had not confirmed the escape until more than two hours later, with officials only notifying city and state police around 10:30 a.m. This extensive delay has been a focal point of criticism directed towards the sheriff’s office.
Currently, six of the escapees remain at large, many of whom faced serious charges including murder. The sheriff’s office has mobilized over 200 law enforcement personnel to locate the fugitives, offering up to $20,000 for information leading to their capture. Antoine Massey, one of the escapees, has a history of jailbreaks, having escaped from a facility in 2019.
The New Orleans jail’s recent escape highlights critical shortcomings in prison security and staff safety. As the investigation unfolds, officials are under increasing pressure to implement necessary reforms to prevent future incidents. The community seeks answers and assurance that such a breach of security will not happen again.
