News Summary
Three inmates who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center jail have been captured, while two remain at large and are considered armed and dangerous. Authorities are investigating the jailbreak, highlighting serious security flaws at the facility. The community has been urged to remain vigilant as the manhunt for the remaining escapees continues. A total of thirteen individuals have been arrested for aiding the escapees, and further investigations are underway to address systemic security issues.
New Orleans — Three of the ten inmates who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center jail on May 16, 2025, have been captured, while two remain at large and are considered armed and dangerous. The recently apprehended individuals are Lenton Vanburen, Leo Tate, and Jermaine Donald. Vanburen was detained in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, located approximately 72 miles northwest of the New Orleans jailbreak, while Tate and Donald were arrested in Walker County, Texas, around 330 miles west of the city.
Authorities indicated that Vanburen was apprehended while sitting on a bench near a department store in Baton Rouge. He was originally incarcerated for a parole violation, possession of a firearm by a felon, and illegal carrying of a weapon. Following his recapture, he is now facing additional charges related to his escape. In Texas, Tate and Donald were discovered after leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase that ended near US 190 and Geneva, following extensive efforts to locate them in the Houston area.
Since the jailbreak, a total of thirteen individuals have been arrested on suspicions of helping the escapees. Other escapees who have been recaptured include Kendell Myles, Robert Moody, Dkenan Dennis, Gary Price, and Corey Boyd. However, authorities are still actively searching for Derrick Groves and Antoine Massey, who are believed to pose a threat to public safety due to their armed status.
Details surrounding the escape indicate that the inmates used electric hair trimmers to cut through cell walls, facilitated by issues such as faulty locks and the theft of blankets. A maintenance worker associated with the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office has been arrested for allegedly providing malicious assistance to the inmates during their escape.
In response to the jailbreak, the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections is deploying auditors to conduct a thorough investigation of the events that led to the escape. A formal forensic processing of the scene has also been initiated, following a request from the district attorney’s office. Former Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman has criticized the jail’s security measures, hinting at systemic issues that may have contributed to the incident.
Many of the inmates involved in the escape were awaiting trial for serious offenses, including murder, raising concerns over the potential dangers posed to the community. The public has been urged to remain vigilant as the manhunt for the remaining escapees continues, with law enforcement agencies emphasizing the need for cooperation from the community to enhance safety.
This situation highlights significant security concerns surrounding the Orleans Justice Center and prompts questions regarding the protocols in place to prevent such incidents in the future. Investigations into the management of the facility and the circumstances surrounding the escape are ongoing, as authorities work to ensure that similar breaches of security do not occur again.
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HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- AP News
- Wikipedia: New Orleans
- ABC News
- Google Search: New Orleans inmate escape
- Fox 8 Live
- Google Scholar: New Orleans inmate escape
- BBC News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: New Orleans
- Washington Post
- Google News: Louisiana jailbreak
