Ten inmates pulled a slick escape from New Orleans Parish Jail, leaving the city in shock and fear. While three have already been captured, seven are still on the loose, with officials convinced that the escape was an inside job. Here’s all the details we know so far, chile!
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How The New Orleans Inmates Got Away
On Friday, May 16, at 8:30 a.m., guards at the Orleans Parish Jail did their morning check and noticed ten male inmates were missing. The prisoners who had disappeared were Gary Price, Derrick Groves, Jermaine Donald, Corey Boyd, Leo Tate, Dkenan Dennis, Robert Moody, Lenton Vanburen, Antoine Massey, and Kendell Myles.
According to the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, the inmates yanked open a faulty sliding jail cell door at around 12:23 a.m. By 1:03 a.m., they’d managed to remove a toilet and a sink from their placement in front of a wall using tools made from toiletry items. Behind the toilet was a spacious gap through which all 10 men were able to squeeze through as they began running away. Defective locks throughout the prison made the men’s escape process that much easier, a problem that the facility has dealt with for years.
Ahead of their escape, the men reportedly removed a toilet positioned by a wall. This then allowed the inmates to carefully squeeze through the hole and straight out of the prison. From there, the 10 individuals headed straight toward the interstate. According to CBS News, some of the prisoners had left messages behind for the prison guards, joking about their newfound freedom.
One of the messages read, “Too easy, LOL.” Now, NOLA is on high alert, with many wondering how 10 inmates can not only escape the prison but also make a mockery of the situation.
Surveillance footage shows New Orleans inmates escaping from jail and running across the highway 👀 pic.twitter.com/PaQFu2xU67
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) May 17, 2025
The Sheriff Suspects The Case To Be An Inside Job
Sheriff Susan Hutson shared some words at the press conference on Friday, May 16. She said she didn’t believe the prisoners got out alone. Hutson felt strongly that this escape was an inside job, expressing, “There is no way people can get out of this facility without some type of lapse in security.”
Per USA Today, Hutson suspects that jail staff or maybe a deputy may have been involved. But it’s too early to tell as the investigation remains ongoing. “These folks that were able to get out did so because of defective locks on the cells,” she added. Hutson also stressed how she’d been concerned about the facility’s lack of safety for a while now.
“I’ve talked about those locks since I got into office […] and every time I go to budget, I say the exact same thing. There are deficiencies in these facilities that pose public safety concerns.”
An examination of the escape plan is still underway. But the idea that someone on the inside might’ve been helping the inmates has raised even more concerns about the facility’s security.
Authorities in New Orleans give an update on the remaining nine inmates who escaped from Orleans Justice Center on Friday morning. Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson says the inmates were able to get out due to defective locks on the cells.
Hutson also clarifies that an inmate… pic.twitter.com/Spr5F3Ak6t— NewsNation (@NewsNation) May 16, 2025
Cops Have Arrested Three Of The Prisoners Who Escaped
Now, the cops are working overtime to catch these runaways. In an effort to find the remaining prisoners, New Orleans cops, alongside the U.S. Marshals and the FBI, are all on the lookout. There’s hope that with additional help, they can track down the prisoners faster.
Meanwhile, three inmates, Moody, Dennis, and Myles, are back in custody. Moody and Dennis were caught hours after their escape. Meanwhile, Myles was spotted by law enforcement on downtown New Orleans cameras, leading to his arrest.
They’ve since been hit with a simple escape charge and were placed back in their jail cells under maximum security watch. However, seven other inmates are still on the loose. Police are therefore warning the people of NOLA to remain on high alert.
