News Summary
Darriana Burton, a former employee of the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, was arrested for allegedly facilitating a jailbreak that occurred at Orleans Parish Prison. The incident involved ten inmates escaping, including a convicted murderer. Law enforcement has arrested multiple individuals linked to the escape operation, while two escapees remain at large. The severity of the situation has prompted strong warnings from authorities regarding the capture of fugitives. Burton faces felony charges for her involvement and has denied any wrongdoing.
New Orleans – Darriana Burton, a 28-year-old former employee of the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, was arrested on Monday for allegedly facilitating a jailbreak that occurred on May 16, 2025, at the Orleans Parish Prison. Burton is believed to have assisted Derrick Groves, a convicted murderer among a total of ten inmates who escaped during the incident.
Burton faces felony charges for conspiracy to commit simple escape. Governor Jeff Landry labeled the jailbreak as the worst in recent state history, emphasizing the severity of the situation. To date, law enforcement has arrested at least 16 individuals connected to the jailbreak, underlining the extent of the escape operation.
While the majority of the escapees were recaptured within a week, two remain at large: Groves and Antoine Massey, who has charges including rape, kidnapping, and domestic battery. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has expressed a strong commitment to pursue and prosecute anyone who assisted the escapees, thanking the U.S. Marshals Service for executing Burton’s arrest warrant.
The jailbreak itself was facilitated through a series of actions taken by the escapees, who managed to pull open a faulty cell door, remove a toilet, crawl through the resulting hole, and subsequently scale a barbed wire fence while a guard left their post to get food. This entire sequence went undetected for several hours.
In the days leading up to the jailbreak, it is alleged that Groves made a FaceTime call to Burton using a jail-issued iPad, during which they coordinated communication with an unidentified individual. This figure has been described as “intentionally vague,” indicating a layer of secrecy surrounding the planning of the escape. Moreover, Burton is said to have aided another fugitive, Lenton Vanburen, by transporting him to a relative’s residence during his escape.
Burton’s time at the Orleans Parish Prison spanned from 2022 to 2024, during which time she was dismissed from her position after an arrest for bringing contraband into the facility. Although charges related to this incident were ultimately dropped following her completion of a pretrial diversion program, the circumstances surrounding her employment have raised questions about her integrity.
In text messages following her arrest, Burton has denied any involvement in bringing contraband into the jail or assisting in any escape operation. She and Groves maintained an on-and-off relationship for three years—a connection that likely deepened during her employment at the facility.
In the aftermath of the escape, at least two of the inmates were found in Texas, while others have been located in New Orleans and surrounding areas. A police affidavit highlights Burton’s direct role in aiding Groves’ escape, derived from communications that law enforcement has tracked.
The investigation into the jailbreak and continued pursuit of the remaining escapees is ongoing. Authorities have issued strong warnings that the fugitives cannot evade capture indefinitely, affirming their commitment to restoring public safety and holding those involved accountable.
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Additional Resources
- ABC News
- Wikipedia: New Orleans
- NOLA
- Google Search: New Orleans jail escape
- AP News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: New Orleans
- CNN
- Google News: New Orleans jail escape
- WWLTV
- Google Scholar: New Orleans jail escape
