Manhunt for 7 inmates who escaped New Orleans jail reaches 4th day

USA Today

19-05-2025

Manhunt for 7 inmates who escaped New Orleans jail reaches 4th day
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New Orleans jail escape: 3 inmates recaptured
Authorities are searching for inmates who escaped from a New Orleans jail after they went through a hole in a wall.
The city of New Orleans remained on edge for a fourth day on May 19 as the massive manhunt continued for seven inmates who fled a New Orleans jail by climbing through a hole behind a toilet.
Hundreds of federal, state and local law enforcement officials were pursuing the escapees, who face a range of charges from aggravated assault and domestic abuse to murder. The youngest is 19, the oldest is 42. Three other inmates have been recaptured.
"It was a tip from the public that led FBI agents to one of the escaped inmates," the FBI in New Orleans said in a social media post. "We still need your help to locate the seven still on the run."
FBI Special Agent Jonathan Trapp said he believes members of the public were helping the seven inmates elude authorities. The FBI is now offering $10,000 per inmate for information leading to an arrest. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is offering $5,000 per inmate and Crime Stoppers is offering another $5,000 per inmate.
"The FBI will work together to ensure that those people helping these inmates evade recapture will be held accountable," Trapp said at the news conference. "These inmates are accused of serious crimes, and until they are back in custody, we should all remain vigilant."
Reward increases as search for escaped New Orleans inmates intensifies
The inmates, some of whom are facing murder charges, escaped from Orleans Parish Prison around 1 a.m. on May 16. The men pulled a "defective" cell door off its tracks and escaped through a hole in the wall behind a toilet and sink unit, according to Susan Hutson, sheriff of Orleans Parish.
Kendell Myles, Robert Moody, and Dkenan Dennis were back into custody within hours.
"3 down 7 to go, and we ARE NOT slowing down! LOCK THEM UP!" Louisian Gov. Jeff Landry said in a social media post May 16 after they were recaptured.
Corey Boyd, Leo Tate, Jermaine Donald, Derrick Groves, Lenton Vanburen, Antoine Massey, and Gary Price remain at large.
7 inmates still on the run after New Orleans jailbreak; watch video: live updates
Did the inmates have help?
Orleans Parish Chief of Corrections Jeworski Mallett said the inmates couldn't have breached the wall near the toilets without outside assistance.
'It was more than just a breach of security, it was some type of help,' Mallett said.
Security footage captured the men tampering with a cell door, fleeing via a loading dock, and running across a highway. Hutson said a jail employee saw the men escaping through surveillance and failed to report it. "We have indication that these detainees received assistance in their escape from individuals inside of our department," Hutson said.
Following the incident, Hutson announced that three sheriff's office employees were suspended without pay, NOLA.com and local television station WGNO reported.
What were the inmates initially in jail for?
At least three of the escaped inmates are charged with murder or attempted murder, according to parish records. Myles, Moody, and Dennis ‒ the three recaptured inmates ‒ were awaiting trial on various felony charges, including attempted murder, armed robberies, aggravated assault, battery, extortion, illegally carrying weapons and illegal drug possession offenses, according to the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office.
It is unclear what additional charges any of the inmates might face following their escape.
Louisiana Gov. Landry calls for audit into New Orleans jail
During the May 18 news conference, Landry said the Louisiana Attorney General's Office will lead the investigation into the "massive jailbreak." The governor also said he ordered the state Department of Public Safety and Corrections to audit the Orleans Parish Prison for compliance with basic jail guidelines and to remove all inmates currently in the facility.
"There is no excuse for the escape of these violent offenders," Landry said. "There is also no excuse for the way these cases are currently being mismanaged in our criminal justice system."