Dramatic Jailbreak at Orleans Parish Correctional Facility

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Authorities investigate the dramatic jailbreak at Orleans Parish Correctional Facility.

News Summary

On May 16, 2025, ten inmates escaped from the Orleans Parish Correctional Facility, with seven still at large. The escape was executed shortly after midnight, leading to extensive security concerns. Authorities have issued a $20,000 bounty for each fugitive, while investigations are underway into possible involvement from jail staff. The incident has sparked discussions on public safety and crime policies in New Orleans.

New Orleans – A dramatic jailbreak at the Orleans Parish Correctional Facility has left authorities searching for seven inmates who remain at large after their escape on May 16, 2025. The incident saw ten inmates break free by dismantling a plumbing fixture, entering a chase, and exiting through a supply dock. This daring escape was orchestrated shortly after midnight and was not discovered until approximately 8:30 a.m. on May 19, leading to extensive concerns over security within the facility.

Authorities have identified the seven fugitives still evading capture as Jermaine Donald (42), Antoine Massey (33), Leo Tate (31), Lenton Vanburen (27), Derrick Groves (27), Gary Price (21), and Corey Boyd (19). Of particular concern is the fact that both Donald and Boyd face serious charges, including second-degree murder. In the wake of the escape, a $20,000 bounty has been placed on each of these individuals, who are believed to still be within Louisiana, predominantly in the New Orleans area. However, there are fears they may have fled to other states.

In light of this jailbreak, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has called for strict accountability among the staff at the Orleans Parish jail. An executive order has been issued to audit the facility and to remove all Department of Corrections inmates from the local jail. Landry has stated that anyone who aided the escapees would also face legal repercussions, underlining the serious implications of co-conspirators in this potentially coordinated escape.

Evidence from the escape includes surveillance footage depicting the inmates evading capture by climbing over a perimeter wall with makeshift ropes fashioned from blankets, after which they sprinted across a nearby freeway. Notably, written messages left on the wall read “To Easy LOL” and “WE INNOCENT,” indicating a possible assertion of innocence or a mocking attitude towards their escape.

In the aftermath of the escape, five of the ten original fugitives have since been apprehended and returned to custody. Local authorities are now focusing on the remaining seven and have intensified their efforts to locate them. Furthermore, the involvement of jail staff has raised alarming safety concerns. A jail maintenance worker, identified as Sterling Williams (33), has been arrested for allegedly shutting off the water supply to facilitate the escape. Additionally, three others, including Connie Weeden (59), Cortnie Harris (32), and Corvanntay Baptiste (38), have been charged as accessories to the jailbreak.

Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams has expressed frustration over the delays in investigating the crime scene immediately following the jailbreak, putting pressure on Sheriff Susan Hutson’s office. With the sheriff’s office under scrutiny, Williams has requested DNA samples from sheriff’s staff to eliminate any potential involvement in the escape.

Local reactions to the jailbreak have been mixed, with community members expressing rising concerns about public safety amid ongoing discussions regarding progressive crime policies in New Orleans. A local nurse has voiced frustration over the lack of order and safety, attributing these issues partially to the city’s current crime policies.

As the situation unfolds, law enforcement agencies continue to seek the public’s assistance in locating the fugitives. The uncertainty surrounding the escape and the implications for jail security have brought a renewed focus to practices and protocols in place at correctional facilities throughout the state.