Ten inmates escape from New Orleans prison in ‘too easy' jail break

Sunday World

17-05-2025

A major manhunt is underway for seven of the men who remain at large after they fled through a hole behind a toilet
One of the escapers, Kendall Myles, is caught in the French Quarter
One of the escaped inmates is captured
Ten prisoners who escaped from a New Orleans jail on Friday left graffiti behind taunting authorities has emerged
A major manhunt is underway for seven of the men who remain at large after they fled through a hole behind a toilet before scaling a wall while the lone guard assigned to their cell was away getting food.
Those seven include suspects charged with serious crimes such as murder.
The absence of the 10 men went unnoticed for hours and it was not until a routine morning headcount, more than seven hours later, that law enforcement learned of the escape.
One witness reported seeing all 10 inmates, clad in their matching orange jumpsuits, running across Interstate 10 in the dark of night, one news outlet reported.
One of the escaped inmates is captured
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One of the men, Kendall Myles (20) who had previously escaped twice from juvenile detention centres, was caught after a brief foot chase through the French Quarter.
Two other fugitives were soon captured, including Robert Moody (21) in New Orleans thanks to a Crimestoppers tip, and Dkenan Dennis who was found near the Chef Menteur Highway.
State police used a helicopter to transport the captured inmates to a state correctional facility outside the New Orleans area while numerous local, state, and federal agencies work 'around the clock' to locate and apprehend the remaining individuals, police said.
Meanwhile a photograph obtained by The Associated Press shows the opening behind a toilet in a cell that the men escaped through.
Above the hole are scrawled messages that include 'To Easy LoL' with an arrow pointing at the gap in the wall.
'I'm/We Innocent,' another message declares.
'Most Hated 9″ was scrawled in the middle of a crudely drawn smiley face with a stuck-out tongue while another note taunted' 'Catch us when you can.'
Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson blamed 'defective locks' that allowed the men to get out of the Orleans Justice Center.
She said she had continuously raised concerns about the locks to officials and, as recently as this week, advocated for money to fix the ailing infrastructure.
She also indicated that people inside her department had helped the fugitives escape.
'It's almost impossible, not completely, but almost impossible for anybody to get out of this facility without help,' she said, according to an AP report in the New York Post.
One of the escapers, Kendall Myles, is caught in the French Quarter
At least one of the steel bars protecting plumbing fixtures 'appeared to have been intentionally cut using a tool,' according to a statement from the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office.
The men shed their jail uniforms once out of the facility but it remains unclear how some of them obtained regular clothing so quickly, officials said.
The men made their daring bid for freedom at 1am but authorities did not notice the men were missing until 8.30am.
Three employees have been placed on suspension pending the outcome of the investigation.
The escapees range in age from 19 to 42, with most in their 20s.
One of them, Derrick Groves, was convicted on two charges of second-degree murder and two charges of attempted second-degree murder last year for his role in the 2018 Mardi Gras Day shootings of two men.
Another escapee, Corey Boyd, is accused of second-degree murder and aggravated battery, while Gary Price was being held on attempted first-degree murder.
Repeat escapee Antoine Massey was locked up on domestic abuse, theft, parole violation, kidnapping and rape charges.
Lenton Venburen was accused of murder in 2021 and was being held on firearm possession and parole violation.
Leo Tate faced burglary and weapons possession charges.