Last Fugitive from New Orleans Prison Escape Captured in Atlanta

The final fugitive from a group of inmates who escaped from a New Orleans prison earlier this year has been apprehended in Atlanta. Authorities reported that this individual was involved in a standoff with law enforcement.

Lousiana State Police (LSP) confirmed that Derrick Groves was taken into custody after a coordinated effort involving multiple agencies, including the U.S. Marshals and the FBI. They indicated that Groves, 28, was captured on October 8, 2025.

Groves had been on the run for five months following his escape from the Orleans Parish Justice Center on May 16. He is a convicted murderer with a lengthy criminal record.

Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams expressed serious concerns during the manhunt, noting that Groves was convicted of double murder and was supposed to be transferred to Angola prison. Williams stated, “I feared that lives would be lost, whether it was civilians or law enforcement. Thankfully, Groves was taken in without anyone getting hurt.”

Authorities plan to look into whether Groves received any outside help during his flight. However, Groves has not publicly commented on how he made it to Atlanta.

When he escaped, Groves was serving a life sentence for second-degree murder, stemming from a shooting incident at a Mardi Gras block party in 2024 that resulted in two fatalities.

Additionally, beyond Groves and the other nine escaped inmates—who were mostly charged with serious violent crimes—there were arrests of some relatives and prison personnel for allegedly aiding in their escape.

At the time of the escape, the Orleans Justice Center was reportedly understaffed, with only 60% of its workforce present to supervise 1,400 inmates.

Most of the escaped inmates were captured shortly after the break.

In a related note, Dariana Barton, a former employee of the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office and believed to be Groves’ girlfriend, was arrested in June for suspected involvement in facilitating Groves’ escape.

The arrest affidavit implicates her in coordinating Groves’ communication with people outside the facility and passing along information about the escape.