News Summary
A manhunt is underway for six inmates who escaped Orleans Parish Prison on May 16. Four inmates have been recaptured, but concerns rise as six remain at large, linked to violent crimes. Law enforcement agencies are searching intensively, with rewards issued for information leading to their capture. This incident raises serious safety concerns for local residents and highlights lapses in prison security protocols, prompting investigations and calls for accountability.
New Orleans – The manhunt for six inmates who escaped from Orleans Parish Prison on May 16 continues as hundreds of law enforcement officials search for the fugitives. Four of the ten inmates who broke out of the facility have been recaptured, including Kendell Myles, Robert Moody, Dkenan Dennis, and Gary Price. Price, 21, was apprehended on May 19 and is set to be transferred to a secure state facility, facing serious charges like attempted first-degree murder, domestic abuse, and aggravated assault.
The jailbreak occurred around 1 a.m. when inmates exploited a faulty cell door lock, allowing them to exit their cells through a hole behind a toilet and make their way to loading docks and across an interstate. The remaining escapees, identified as Corey Boyd, Leo Tate, Jermaine Donald, Derrick Groves, Lenton Vanburen, and Antoine Massey, are still at large, raising safety concerns for residents. Their ages range from 19 to 42, with charges spanning violent crimes, including murder and armed robbery.
Law enforcement agencies have responded with urgency, with hundreds of federal, state, and local officials involved in the ongoing search efforts. The FBI has announced a reward of $10,000 for information leading to the capture of each fugitive, while the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Crime Stoppers have added a further $5,000 reward each. Investigators believe the inmates were able to escape due to defective locks on the cells and a lack of proper supervision within the facility.
The investigation into the escape is being spearheaded by the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, amidst suspicions that the jailbreak may have involved assistance from individuals inside the jail. Surveillance footage revealed inmates tampering with the defective cell doors before making their escape. Heightened security concerns were exacerbated by the fact that a jail employee had left the area during the escape, contributing to the lapse in security.
Sheriff Susan Hutson has implied that those who aided the inmates will be prosecuted. In the wake of the escape, three employees of the sheriff’s office have been suspended without pay for negligence in monitoring. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has ordered an audit of Orleans Parish Prison to assess compliance with correctional guidelines. The Orleans Parish District Attorney condemned the incident, deeming it an “absurd” failure of oversight.
The escape triggered significant public concern, leading to the sheriff’s office taking several hours before notifying the public. This delay has prompted worries among victims and witnesses, with calls for Sheriff Hutson to resign following the incident. However, she has stated that she has no intention of stepping down.
As the manhunt continues, city officials, including Mayor LaToya Cantrell, are urging residents to remain vigilant in their communities. The superintendent of the state police has reassured the public that they have intelligence on the locations of all seven fugitives still at large. The ongoing search efforts reflect the seriousness with which authorities are treating this significant security breach at Orleans Parish Prison.
This incident highlights the critical need for improvements in prison security protocols and the importance of oversight in facilities housing individuals charged with serious crimes. As the investigation delves deeper, community safety remains a priority for law enforcement as they strive to locate and apprehend the remaining escapees.
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Additional Resources
- CNN: New Orleans Jail Escape Inmates Manhunt
- Wikipedia: Prison
- The New York Times: New Orleans Jail Escape
- Google Search: New Orleans Jail Escape
- AP News: New Orleans Jail Escape Toilet
- Google Scholar: New Orleans Jail Security
- Fox News: Louisiana Governor Blasts Progressive Promises
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Prison Security
- Fox 8 Live: Manhunt Continues for Orleans Jail Escapees
- Google News: Louisiana Jail Escape
