In a shocking incident on Friday morning, ten inmates escaped from the Orleans Parish Jail in New Orleans, Louisiana. According to police, the inmates are considered “armed and dangerous,” and it’s believed that they were helped by someone inside the jail.
So far, three of the ten escapees have been caught, but seven are still missing. The entire jail is currently under lockdown, and a large manhunt is underway.
How the Jailbreak Happened
The escape was discovered during a regular head count at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, but officials believe the inmates escaped shortly after midnight. Around 12:23 a.m., the prisoners forced open a sliding jail door, and by 1:01 a.m., they were outside.
The escape was unusual. The inmates broke a wall behind a toilet, using toiletry items to remove bolts. Then, they scaled a wall and ran across an interstate highway. Police later released jail footage showing the group running out of the building and crossing the freeway.
In a mocking message to jail staff, one of the inmates left a note saying, “to easy, LOL” — with a spelling mistake.
Police Say They Had Help from Inside
Sheriff Susan Hutson said clearly: “There’s no way anyone can escape from this facility without inside help.” The Sheriff’s Office believes some jail staff or deputies may have helped the inmates or failed to follow security procedures.
She also admitted that the jail had serious security issues, and blamed the city for not approving funds to fix them. According to her, the jail needs $5.2 million just to replace faulty locks.
Who Has Been Caught So Far?
Out of the ten who escaped, three have now been arrested:
- Kendell Myles was spotted on a surveillance camera in downtown New Orleans. He was found hiding under a car at a hotel parking garage and taken back into custody.
- Robert Moody was caught later that day.
- Dkenan Dennis was captured Friday night.
All three are back in jail and now face new charges for escape.
Police, FBI, and U.S. Marshals Join the Hunt
The remaining seven inmates are still on the run, but police believe they are still somewhere in New Orleans. The New Orleans Police Department, Louisiana State Police, FBI, and U.S. Marshals are all helping with the search.
One of the escaped inmates, Derrick Groves, is especially dangerous — he was convicted of murder in a 2018 Mardi Gras shooting.
The police are contacting victims and witnesses connected to the cases of these inmates and even moved a family to safety after the escape.
Warning to the Public
Police are warning the public not to help or hide the escapees. Anyone who does so will be charged with a crime. Police also said that the escapees may no longer be wearing their jail uniforms, which could make them harder to identify.
They are asking anyone with information to contact law enforcement immediately.
Jail Faces Serious Security Concerns
Sheriff Hutson strongly criticised the lack of action by city officials. She said the Sheriff’s Office has been asking for security upgrades for five years, but funding has not been approved. She pointed out that broken locks and old systems are making the jail unsafe.