Escapees Still on the Loose After New Orleans Jailbreak

New Orleans – Escapees Still on the Loose After Jailbreak

Eight of the ten inmates who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center on May 16 remain on the run, creating a rising concern among law enforcement and the community. The two primary fugitives, Antoine Massey, 32, and Derrick Groves, 27, are deemed armed and dangerous by police, prompting a significant manhunt involving approximately 200 law enforcement officials. The search effort has become costly, with expenses projected to approach half a million dollars.

Details of the Escape

The escape plan was ingeniously executed by tampering with a sliding door, removing a toilet, and cutting through steel bars, which enabled inmates to exit through a newly created hole in the wall. Surveillance footage revealed that the escapees managed to force open a door and leave the facility unnoticed for over eight hours. Graffiti at the escape site proclaimed messages like “To Easy Lol” and “We Innocent,” adding an unsettling dimension to the incident.

Legal Consequences and Arrests

Investigations into the jailbreak have uncovered that at least 15 individuals assisted the escapees, providing them with food, money, transportation, and shelter both before and after the escape. Following these revelations, multiple arrests have occurred for aiding the escapees, with some individuals being held on bonds of $1 million or higher for charges primarily classified as accessory after the fact.

Criminal Background of Escapees

Massey has been charged with domestic abuse, vehicle theft, and has an outstanding warrant for second-degree rape and kidnapping. Groves holds a conviction for second-degree murder. One of the escapees, Lenton Vanburen, 26, was apprehended in Baton Rouge on May 26, with assistance from family and friends. Another escapee, Corey Boyd, was tracked down through months of phone call reviews and social media interactions by the FBI.

Security and Infrastructure Issues

The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office reported that during the escape, one-third of the jail’s security cameras were inoperative, highlighting severe deficiencies in the facility’s security system. The issues of overcrowding, insufficient staffing, and crumbling infrastructure within the jail have drawn significant scrutiny since the escape, with calls for comprehensive reforms in the management of the jail system.

Community Impact and Ongoing Search

In response to the ongoing situation, authorities have increased the reward for information leading to the capture of Massey and Groves to $50,000. There are concerns among law enforcement that the escapees may have fled to various cities to evade capture. Criticism of Mayor LaToya Cantrell has surfaced due to her limited public response to the events following the jailbreak, raising questions about leadership during the crisis.

Investigation and Future Provisions

The escape has exposed glaring vulnerabilities in the Orleans Justice Center’s capabilities and has prompted a reassessment of surveillance systems and operational protocols. As both state and federal law enforcement agencies intensify their efforts to track down both escapees and those aiding them, the incident continues to send shockwaves throughout the community.

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