Authorities are currently working to track down seven of the ten men who escaped from a prison in New Orleans on Saturday. The escape was made possible by a breach behind a toilet where the inmates expanded a gap in the wall.
Images obtained show the escape route, accompanied by a note that reads “lol,” with an arrow pointing to the hole.
Friday’s escape has drawn considerable criticism and scrutiny.
It took hours for sheriff’s officials to discover the breakout and notify the police in New Orleans.
Casey McGee, a spokesperson for the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, did not provide immediate answers when contacted on Saturday.
“Someone really dropped the ball here, and there’s no excuse for that,” said Louisiana Attorney General Liz Maril.
Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams indicated that he had charged one of the escapees, expressing his frustration with how the situation unfolded, stating, “This is just ridiculous. I can’t comprehend how this happened.”
What are prison officials saying?
Sheriff Susan Hutson attributed the escape partly to “a flawed rock” and suggested that cooperation from someone within her department might have been involved.
“It’s very nearly impossible to escape from here without assistance,” she remarked, noting that the prison currently holds around 1,400 inmates.
Hutson mentioned raising concerns about the facility’s security and reiterated the need for funding to address infrastructure issues just this week.
Media footage revealed the escapees as they navigated their way out, scaling fences and using blankets to shield themselves from barbed wire, some bolting across the interstate.
Why did it take so long to learn about the escape?
The sheriff’s office stated that the escapees accessed the hole around 12:30 AM, but law enforcement only became aware of their absence over seven hours later during morning checks.
Official sources claim that the area where the inmates were held had no staff available to monitor the situation at that time.
Further delays were noted before the local police were informed.
“These are very dangerous individuals on the loose,” Williams expressed.
One of the fugitives, Kendall Miles, aged 20, was apprehended shortly after the escape in the French Quarter following a brief chase.
Three sheriff department employees have been suspended while investigations unfold, although it remains unclear if any are suspected of facilitating the escape.
Who were the escapees?
The majority of those who fled are in their twenties. Louisiana State Police confirmed that Miles, along with Robert Moody, 21, and Danan Dennis, 24, were transferred to a correctional facility by helicopter.
During the transfer, one inmate reportedly became aggressive, but authorities did not specify which one.
Attorney General Maril confirmed that Dennis is facing armed robbery charges and illegal possession of a weapon. Moody has charges related to a weapon and multiple counts of attempted battery.
Other escapees include Derrick Groves, who was convicted of attempted murder last year, and Corey Boyd, who is still facing a murder charge.
Issues at the prison
Despite being a relatively new facility that opened in 2015, the Judicial Center has been plagued by violence and security challenges.
Hutson stated that the staff is limited, operating with about 60% of the necessary personnel.
Bianca Brown, the CFO for the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, noted the financial strain that prevents necessary maintenance for critical issues like faulty locks and infrastructure repairs.
The facility houses numerous high-risk offenders, necessitating “restrictive housing environments” that have yet to be established.
During an ongoing reelection campaign, Hutson expressed her suspicion regarding the timing of the escape.
