New Orleans Jailbreak: 7 Fugitives Still on the Run, Inside Job Suspected

Seven inmates remain at large following a daring escape from the Orleans Parish Justice Center in New Orleans, with authorities suspecting an inside job facilitated the breakout. The escape, which saw 10 prisoners initially flee, has left the city on edge as law enforcement scrambles to apprehend the fugitives, charged with serious crimes including murder and domestic abuse.

The breakout occurred Friday when inmates exploited a hidden hole behind a toilet, scaled a fence using blankets to dodge barbed wire, and fled into a nearby neighborhood. Surveillance footage, not monitored in real-time, later revealed the escape, with graffiti like "To Easy LOL" and "WE INNOCENT" scrawled near the exit point. Three inmates—Kendall Myles, Robert Moody, and Dkenan Dennis—have been recaptured, but Jermaine Donald, Antoine Massey, Leo Tate, Lenton Vanburen, Derrick Groves, Gary Price, and Corey Boyd remain on the run.

Over 200 officers, alongside FBI resources, are pursuing active leads, with a $5,000 reward offered for tips leading to arrests. Authorities warn that anyone aiding the escapees will face accomplice charges. Sheriff Susan Hutson and Attorney General Liz Murrill have pointed to systemic failures, including faulty cell doors, low staffing (only 60% capacity), and a civilian employee’s absence during the escape. Three jail employees are now on administrative leave as an investigation unfolds.

The incident has sparked outrage and calls for accountability. Murrill, decrying the lapse, demands a thorough probe into what she called a clear failure. Questions linger about the hole’s origin, with officials noting it couldn’t have been created from inside the cell, deepening suspicions of internal involvement.

As the manhunt intensifies, the public is urged to stay vigilant and report tips, with fears some fugitives may have fled Louisiana. The escape exposes not just security gaps but a broader challenge in managing overcrowded, understaffed facilities—a wake-up call for reform.