Security failures at Orleans Parish Prison contributed to the jailbreak.
Following a daring escape on May 16, a total of ten inmates broke out of Orleans Parish Prison, with only eight recaptured. The manhunt for Antoine Massey and Derrick Groves is ongoing, extending into Texas. Louisiana officials, including Attorney General Liz Murrill, emphasize the serious security failures at the facility. The escape has exposed long-standing issues within the prison system, including overcrowding, inadequate staffing, and malfunctioning security equipment. Governor Jeff Landry has ordered the removal of remaining state inmates as investigations continue into the jailbreak and its causes.
New Orleans – Two inmates, Antoine Massey and Derrick Groves, are still at large following a significant jailbreak from Orleans Parish Prison that occurred on May 16, 2025. A total of ten inmates managed to escape, of which only eight have been recaptured. The search for the remaining fugitives has extended beyond New Orleans, with two inmates identified in Texas after extensive monitoring by U.S. Marshals.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has indicated that the escapees have built networks in New Orleans, which complicates their ability to remain hidden. She affirmed that law enforcement will continue to pursue Massey and Groves, expressing confidence in their eventual capture. The escape has been labeled the worst in recent state history by Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, who has confirmed that investigations are ongoing into the circumstances surrounding the jailbreak.
Authorities have arrested at least 13 individuals linked to the escape, shedding light on possible collaborations that aided the inmates. Factors contributing to this jailbreak include longstanding issues within the court system, inadequate jail staffing, and deteriorating infrastructure at the facility. The slow pace of processing criminal cases has resulted in severe overcrowding, complicating the jail’s management and security.
Concerns were raised regarding the state of security at the jail, with reports noting that around one-third of the security cameras were non-operational at the time of the escape. Surveillance footage captured the inmates executing a series of maneuvers that allowed them to breach a cell door and a wall behind the toilet before making their way through a loading dock. Alarmingly, the jailbreak went unnoticed until about 8:30 a.m., several hours after the initial escape, during which no sheriff’s deputy was present in the area where the breach occurred.
According to the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, the locks on the cells were defective, with some inmates reassigned to a unit under renovation. Murrill highlighted that efforts have begun to replace all hinges and locks in one unit, but approximately 160 additional cells still await similar attention. She emphasized the urgent need for not only physical improvements, such as operable locks and functional lighting, but also faster case processing within the judicial system to alleviate the jail’s overcrowding issues.
In the aftermath of the escape, the jail is grappling with significant plumbing problems, leading to flooding conditions despite emergency repair efforts. Reports have emerged of inmates requesting water from outside the facility, indicating a worrisome state of living conditions within. The dysfunction within the correctional facility has persisted for decades, with a federal judge declaring its overcrowding unconstitutional as early as 1970. Past incidents, such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which left inmates stranded in chest-high water, and a notorious 2013 video showing inmate drug use and violence, have further highlighted the facility’s challenges.
In response to these events, Governor Landry has ordered the removal of all remaining state Department of Corrections inmates from the prison. Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams has voiced concerns regarding the sheriff’s office’s capability to maintain security, planning to request private security for the courthouse to bolster safety. Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson has accepted full responsibility for the jailbreak and has temporarily suspended her reelection campaign to concentrate on enhancing security and public safety.
Murrill has urged the community to stay alert and actively participate in ensuring that the systems and leadership in place work effectively to protect public safety. As authorities continue the search for the two escapees, public vigilance and cooperation will remain crucial in addressing the serious issues plaguing the Orleans Parish Prison.
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