The site of a recent jail escape in New Orleans.
Two inmates, Leo Tate and Jermaine Donald, who escaped from Orleans Justice Center on May 16, have been recaptured in Texas. Their escape was part of a larger jailbreak involving 10 inmates, of which eight have been caught. Authorities continue to search for the remaining fugitives Derrick Groves and Antoine Massey, with a reward of $50,000 being offered for tips that lead to their capture. This incident has raised serious concerns about security and management at the facility.
Two inmates, Leo Tate and Jermaine Donald, who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans on May 16, have been recaptured in Texas. The men were swiftly apprehended in Walker County, approximately 330 miles from the city, and have since been flown back to Louisiana.
A total of 10 inmates managed to escape from the Orleans Justice Center earlier this month by cutting a hole behind a toilet in their cell. Out of the initial 10 escapees, eight have now been recaptured and transported to a secure correctional facility. Authorities are actively searching for the remaining two fugitives: Derrick Groves, a convicted murderer, and Antoine Massey, who faces serious charges of kidnapping and rape.
To encourage tips leading to the arrests of Groves and Massey, a reward of $50,000 has been announced by law enforcement officials. The escape effort was not a solitary venture; it is reported that at least 15 individuals provided varying levels of support to the inmates, including food, cash, transportation, and shelter.
The jailbreak occurred after inmates manipulated plumbing systems, navigating through a hazardous plumbing chase and ultimately exiting through a loading dock. Their escape was characterized by significant assistance from others, including a former jail employee accused of providing transportation and communication access to escapee Lenton Vanburen shortly after he broke free. Additionally, a jail maintenance worker named Sterling Williams has been arrested for allegedly helping the escapees by shutting off water to a cell at the request of Massey, who reportedly threatened him.
Following their escape, Vanburen managed to change clothes and received toiletries from family members before being captured in Baton Rouge. The other escapees also utilized internet phone services to communicate with accomplices while dodging law enforcement.
The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office has identified multiple security failures that facilitated the escape, including non-functioning surveillance cameras and defective locks. These issues have raised concerns about the facility’s management, particularly amid ongoing overcrowding due to a backlog of slow-moving criminal cases in the court system.
Criticism has also been directed at Mayor LaToya Cantrell, who has faced scrutiny for her limited public responses during this crisis. Meanwhile, Attorney General Liz Murrill is overseeing an investigation into the escape and associated jail management failures. District Attorney Jason Williams has recused himself from the investigation due to an alleged conflict of interest.
As authorities continue their search for Groves and Massey, they are encouraging friends and family of the escapees to provide tips that may assist in locating the fugitives. Local, state, and federal agencies are collaborating, pooling resources to expedite the process of recapturing the remaining escapees.
The escape highlights ongoing challenges within the Orleans Justice Center, prompting a thorough examination of security protocols and inmate management as officials work to ensure there are no further breaches. The urgency surrounding the situation remains high, with law enforcement determined to restore public safety and ensure that those who aided the escape are held accountable.
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