News Summary
A manhunt is ongoing for five inmates who escaped from the Orleans Parish Jail, raising concerns about security holes. Ten inmates broke free, with five recaptured. The escape involved tampering with a cell, prompting investigations and arrests of jail staff. A $20,000 reward is offered for leads on the remaining escapees. Governor Jeff Landry has ordered an audit of jail operations amid growing safety fears among the public, particularly families of past crime victims.
New Orleans – A significant manhunt is underway for five inmates who escaped from the Orleans Parish Jail on May 16, triggering a citywide search and drawing attention to critical security lapses within the facility. Ten inmates initially broke free during the incident, but five have since been recaptured and are now held at Angola, Louisiana’s maximum-security prison.
The inmates who were recaptured include Kendell Myles, Robert Moody, D’kenan Dennis, Gary Price, and Corey Boyd. However, the remaining escapees, identified as Lenton Vanburen Jr., Jermaine Donald, Antoine Massey, Derrick Groves, and Leo Tate Sr., remain at large. The escape was facilitated by tampering with a locked cell, where the inmates created a hole behind a toilet, granting them access to a loading dock.
Surveillance footage has confirmed that the escape occurred between 12:23 a.m. and 1:01 a.m., sparking concerns over the security measures in place at the jail. Sheriff Susan Hutson has indicated that this incident appears to be an inside job, with significant lapses noted in the facility’s security protocols. As a result, three employees of the Sheriff’s Office have been suspended, and a maintenance worker named Sterling Williams has been arrested for allegedly disabling water supply to the escape cell.
Williams’ attorney contends that his client was not involved in the escape plan and is being unjustly scapegoated by law enforcement. In addition to the employees suspended, four other individuals—Casey Smith, Connie Weeden, Cortnie Harris, and Corvanntay Baptiste—have been arrested on charges of aiding the escapees. Notably, Harris is accused of transporting escapee Jermaine Donald and Leo Tate after their successful breakout, while Weeden allegedly provided cash to Donald through a phone app.
The escape of these inmates has raised serious safety concerns in New Orleans, contributing to widespread distress among the families of victims from previous crimes committed by the escapees. In response to the incident, Governor Jeff Landry signed an executive order to initiate audits and ensure oversight of operations at the jail. A $20,000 reward has already been offered for information leading to the recapture of each of the five remaining escapees.
An audit team from the Louisiana Department of Public Safety has been dispatched to assess jail operations, security measures, and staffing levels. In the wake of this incident, criticism has been levied at the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office regarding operational failures and inadequate supervision of inmates, further highlighting the urgent need for reform.
The ongoing investigation into the escape is expected to yield further developments, with additional arrests and charges anticipated as new details emerge. Law enforcement continues to pursue leads on the remaining escapees, as public safety remains a primary concern following this unprecedented breach of security within the Orleans Parish Jail.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
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Arrests Made in New Orleans Jailbreak Investigation
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Additional Resources
- WWLTV
- Google Search: New Orleans Jail Escape
- NBC News
- Google Scholar: New Orleans Jail Security Failure
- CBS News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: New Orleans Jail Escape
- Fox 8 Live
- Google News: New Orleans Jail Escape
