News Summary
A substantial jailbreak at the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans has prompted an extensive manhunt for five escapees. After ten inmates broke free from custody, law enforcement mobilized over 200 personnel. The escape, which occurred early on May 16, involved inmate Antoine Massey coercing a jail worker to shut off the water supply, allowing the inmates to dismantle and escape through a loading dock. While five have been recaptured, authorities continue to search for the remaining fugitives and investigate the circumstances of the jailbreak.
New Orleans – A significant jailbreak at the Orleans Justice Center has led to an extensive manhunt for five remaining escapees after ten inmates broke free from custody. Law enforcement agencies, including federal, state, and local officers, have mobilized over 200 personnel to locate the fugitives as of May 21, 2025.
The jailbreak unfolded in the early hours of May 16, when the inmates capitalized on a lapse in security. Prior to the incident, inmate Antoine Massey coerced a jail maintenance worker by threatening him with a knife, compelling him to shut off the water supply to a cell. This action was strategic, as it prevented water flooding that could have raised alarm during the escape.
In the hours leading to the escape, the Orleans Justice Center was under lockdown starting at 10:30 PM on May 15. However, on the night of their escape, no sheriff’s deputy was present in the housing section of the jail where the inmates were kept. Surveillance footage captured the exact moment when the inmates forced a sliding door open around 12:22 AM and then accessed another cell.
Once inside, the escapees dismantled a combination sink-toilet from the wall and sawed through steel bars. Following the water shutoff, which disguised noise from their activities, they fled the building through a loading dock by approximately 1 AM. They exited the facility and climbed over a barbed wire fence, utilizing blankets for protection from the sharp wire. Traffic cameras later recorded the escapees crossing Interstate 10 and entering a nearby neighborhood.
The escape was discovered during a routine headcount at 8:30 AM, prompting immediate notifications to jail leadership about the situation. As of now, five escapees have been recaptured, including Kendell Myles, who was located in the French Quarter later the same day at 11:30 AM. Other captured individuals are Robert Moody, Dkenan Dennis, Gary Price, and Corey Boyd, the latter being apprehended on May 20 following a track by the Louisiana State Police in the Iberville area.
Two additional suspects linked to the escape were arrested for assisting the inmates. Cortnie Harris faces charges for allegedly coordinating with the inmates and providing transportation, while Corvanntay Baptiste purportedly supplied food to one escapee.
Over the years, the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office has repeatedly requested funding to address security concerns, specifically to upgrade the faulty locks on the jail’s cell doors. This history raises questions about the facility’s ability to prevent such escapes effectively. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill stated that all recaptured inmates would be held without bond, highlighting the seriousness of their offenses.
The manhunt remains active for the five remaining fugitives: Antoine Massey, Lenton Vanburen, Jermaine Donald, Leo Tate, and Derrick Groves. Law enforcement agencies continue their efforts to locate these individuals and ensure public safety as investigations proceed into how such a significant security breach occurred.
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HERE Resources
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Maintenance Worker Arrested After Jailbreak at Orleans Parish Jail
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Fifth Inmate Recaptured After New Orleans Jailbreak
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Additional Resources
- BBC News
- Wikipedia: New Orleans Jail Escape
- Fox News
- Google Search: New Orleans jailbreak
- CNN
- Google Scholar: New Orleans jail break
- CBS News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: New Orleans Jail
- NOLA.com
- Google News: Orleans Parish manhunt
