Seven out of ten inmates who escaped from a New Orleans prison on Friday are still at large, while three others have been caught. Authorities believe that someone inside the facility assisted their escape.
The group of seven includes individuals charged with serious crimes like murder, domestic violence, and robbery. Law enforcement is reportedly following strong leads with numerous tips coming in from the community.
There’s concern that some of the escapees might have left New Orleans or even the state of Louisiana. Authorities are urging the public to stay alert and report any information that could assist in recapturing these fugitives. The FBI has announced a resource surge and is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for tips leading to their arrests.
Approximately 200 officers are actively participating in the search, with state and federal agencies collaborating on the effort. It’s noteworthy that the situation seems to have some inside support, as one of the escapees is suspected of being an accomplice.
Among those still on the run are Jermaine Donald (42), Antoine Massey (33), Leo Tate (31), Renton Vanbren (27), Derrick Groves (27), Gary Price (21), and Cory Boyd (19).
Law enforcement has released images of one fugitive who was captured after fleeing into the French Quarter. Kendall Miles (20) had a history of escapes from a juvenile detention center before being recaptured.
By Friday evening, additional captures included Robert Moody (21), who was found in New Orleans, and another escapee was discovered near Chef Menteur Highway. Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson mentioned that this kind of escape likely wouldn’t happen without assistance from the inside.
Attorney General Liz Maril criticized the oversight, asserting that “the ball was clearly dropped” and calling for a complete investigation into the jailbreak. As a consequence, three employees have been suspended pending results of the investigation.
Surveillance footage showed the ten inmates fleeing from the Orleans Parish Judicial Center, the main prison facility. They managed to breach the fence, using blankets for protection against barbed wire, then ran across an interstate into a neighboring area where they changed clothes.
Officials noted that a female employee had improperly sealed off the area, leading to this breach. Surprisingly, the video feed was not being monitored in real-time but was reviewed after the inmates were found missing hours later. There were three prison employees on administrative leave at the time of the escape.
The gap that allowed the inmates to escape appeared to have been concealed behind a toilet located on the prison’s first floor. Near this escape route, an inmate had written “To Easy Lol” and “We Innocent.” It remains uncertain whether this opening was created by the inmates or was already present, with corrections officials asserting that such holes cannot be made from the inside.
Concerns about security breaches were raised, including faulty cell doors and insufficient staffing. At the time of the escape, the facility operated at just 60% of its required staffing levels, meaning four supervisors and 36 staff were responsible for monitoring 1,400 inmates.
As of now, the apprehended inmates and their charges include:
- Dkenan Dennis, 24: charged with multiple counts of armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms, and more.
- Robert L. Moody, 21: facing charges of aggravated battery, obstruction of justice, and other offenses.
- Kendel Miles, 20: accused of weapon concealment, possession of contraband, and attempted murder, among others.
The escapees still on the run face significant charges:
- Gary C. Price, 21: charged with attempted murder, domestic abuse, and weapon offenses.
- Cory E. Boyd, 19: facing charges related to murder and obstruction of justice.
- Renton J. Vanbullen Jr., 26: charged with firearm possession by a felon and obstruction.
- Jermaine Donald, 42: charged with serious offenses including murder and obstruction.
- Antoine Massey, 32: facing domestic abuse and theft charges.
- Derrick Groves, 27: charged with attempted murder and battery of a correctional staff member.
- Leo O. Tate Sr., 31: charged with robbery, firearm offenses, and drug-related charges.
