Two women have been taken into custody for allegedly aiding some of the ten inmates who escaped from a New Orleans prison, as authorities continue their hunt for the remaining fugitives.
Cortnie Harris, 32, and Corvanntay Baptiste, 38, are facing felony charges as they reportedly assisted inmates caught on security cameras escaping from the Orleans Parish Correctional Facility on Friday night. This information comes from the Louisiana State Police.
Prior to the escape, Harris had reportedly been in touch via phone with one inmate who was still at large, although police haven’t disclosed which individual it was.
Harris is also alleged to have transported two of the escapees around different locations in New Orleans, with the names of these inmates remaining undisclosed by authorities.
On the other hand, Baptiste is accused of having communication with accused murderer Corey Boyd on both phone and social media prior to his escape.
Boyd, who faces charges for a murder linked to a carjacking last year, was apprehended earlier this week in New Orleans.
It’s unclear whether Harris and Baptiste have any prior connection to each other. Both women face felony charges for their alleged roles in this situation.
In addition to these arrests, a prison staff member named Sterling Williams, 33, is said to have coerced one inmate into cutting off water supplies in cells, allowing other inmates to create a hole in the wall for their escape, while threatening him if he didn’t assist.
Following their breakout, the inmates navigated through a barbed-wire fence and fled across a highway, later changing into different clothes.
At this point, five of the escapees have been captured, while five others remain at large.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Maril has described the remaining escapees as “armed and dangerous.”
Harris and Baptiste were booked at the Plaquemines Parish Detention Center and could face up to five years in prison if convicted.
The Louisiana State Police issued a statement emphasizing that anyone aiding such fugitives is breaking the law and poses a threat to community safety, which will not be overlooked.
