New Orleans Jail Escape Sparks Outrage and Investigation \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Seven of ten inmates who escaped a New Orleans jail remain at large after fleeing through a hole behind a toilet and scaling a wall. The escape, involving accused violent offenders, went undetected for hours and is fueling criticism of jail leadership and infrastructure. Investigations are underway, with officials under pressure.
Quick Looks
- Ten inmates escaped through a hole behind a toilet.
- Seven fugitives still missing as of Saturday afternoon.
- Escapees climbed a wall and barbed-wire fence using blankets.
- Officials learned of the escape more than seven hours later.
- Some escapees are accused or convicted of violent crimes.
- One inmate, convicted of two murders, remains at large.
- No deputy was present in the escape pod at the time.
- Sheriff Susan Hutson blames broken locks, lack of funding.
- Surveillance video shows inmates sprinting into nearby neighborhoods.
- Three sheriff’s office employees placed on administrative leave.
- Criticism intensifies ahead of Hutson’s reelection campaign.
- AG and DA slam jail’s delayed response and oversight.
Deep Look
A massive manhunt involving over a dozen law enforcement agencies is underway across New Orleans and surrounding parishes as seven inmates remain on the run following a daring jail escape from the Orleans Justice Center. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Friday, has not only shaken public confidence in the city’s correctional system but also exposed deep-rooted flaws in staffing, oversight, and infrastructure at one of the region’s most secure detention facilities.
Surveillance footage shared during a press conference showed ten inmates slipping through a hole behind a toilet, running through the facility, scaling a barbed-wire fence using blankets, and disappearing into the night. They were out by 1:30 a.m., but authorities didn’t discover the breakout until after 8:00 a.m., when a routine headcount revealed the missing prisoners.
Above the escape hole, someone had scrawled the mocking message: “To Easy LoL”, with an arrow pointing toward the breach.
‘No Excuse’: State and Local Officials Slam Jail Leadership
Officials across Louisiana have condemned the escape and the delayed response, particularly given that several fugitives are facing charges of or convictions for violent offenses, including murder.
“Someone clearly dropped the ball and there’s no excuse for this,” said Attorney General Liz Murrill on X.
Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams called the escape “absurd” and said he was “angry” to learn one of the fugitives had been prosecuted by his office.
Williams criticized the jail for giving dangerous individuals a seven-hour head start, adding,
“You’ve given a head start to some very dangerous people.”
Inmates Escaped Through Hole, Scaled Wall With Blankets
According to Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson, the escape was possible due to “defective locks”, which she said have been a long-standing issue. She also suggested possible internal assistance, saying it’s “almost impossible” to escape from the facility without help.
“This was a systemic failure,” Hutson admitted.
“It’s hard to believe this happened without someone helping.”
Hutson, who oversees the 1,400-inmate jail, pointed to the facility’s understaffing—operating at about 60% capacity—as a major reason for the breach, and emphasized that her office has been requesting funds to address infrastructure problems, including lock repairs and door maintenance.
How Did It Take So Long to Notice?
Authorities say the inmates entered the compromised cell area around 12:30 a.m. and were outside the facility by 1:30 a.m. However, no deputy was posted at the pod housing the inmates. A civilian employee was present but had stepped away to get food, according to the sheriff’s office.
The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) wasn’t notified until after the delayed headcount was completed—well over seven hours after the actual escape.
This lapse is fueling scrutiny over internal oversight, shift protocols, and staffing decisions. As of Saturday, three sheriff’s employees were suspended pending investigation, though it is not confirmed whether any were directly involved or if the employee who left the pod is among them.
Who Are the Escapees?
Among the escapees are individuals facing or convicted of serious charges, including:
- Derrick Groves – Convicted of two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder in a 2018 Mardi Gras shooting.
- Corey Boyd – Awaiting trial on a second-degree murder charge.
- Dkenan Dennis (24) – Charged with armed robbery and illegal weapons possession.
- Robert Moody (21) – Charged with attempted battery and obstruction of justice.
- Kendall Myles (20) – Recaptured after a foot chase in the French Quarter.
The three recaptured inmates were airlifted to a state correctional facility outside of New Orleans for enhanced security. During the transfer, one of the men became hostile, prompting troopers to place a “spit hood” over him, though authorities did not confirm which inmate.
Facility Faces History of Problems Despite Its Youth
Opened in 2015, the Orleans Justice Center was meant to mark a new era of modern incarceration in New Orleans. But despite being a relatively new facility, it has been plagued by chronic understaffing, outdated equipment, and frequent inmate violence.
Bianka Brown, CFO of the Sheriff’s Office, acknowledged the facility has no maintenance contract to address ongoing problems like broken locks and faulty doors. The jail houses many individuals categorized as high-security risks, including those convicted of violent crimes, but lacks sufficient restrictive housing units to isolate them.
Jay Mallett, Chief of Corrections, said the sheriff’s office was already in the process of transferring dozens of inmates to more secure facilities when the escape occurred.
Political Ramifications Ahead of Sheriff’s Election
The timing of the escape is politically sensitive. Sheriff Hutson is up for reelection this year, and opponents are already leveraging the incident to question her leadership.
Michelle Woodfork, former interim New Orleans Police Superintendent, now works in the District Attorney’s office and is reportedly considering a campaign. She has publicly called for Hutson to fully explain how such a breakdown occurred.
Hutson, for her part, has called the timing of the escape “suspicious” given the looming election season but declined to elaborate further.
The Search Continues
As of Saturday evening, seven inmates remain at large, and authorities are expanding their search perimeter while asking the public to remain vigilant. The escape location is less than two miles from the French Quarter, a major tourist area, heightening concern about potential public safety risks.
Local, state, and federal agencies are working together to track leads, analyze surveillance footage, and interview jail personnel. Investigators are also probing whether internal collusion played a role.
While the sheriff’s office has promised a full investigation, pressure is mounting for accountability and reform.
New Orleans Jail
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