Latest news with #ConnieWeeden
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Shocking twist in New Orleans jail escape as mystery accomplice is arrested for helping them flee
A Louisiana grandmother has now been dragged into the New Orleans prison escape saga after she was arrested for allegedly helping one of the fugitive inmates who remains on the run. Connie Weeden, 59, of Slidell, has been arrested and is now behind bars facing serious felony charges for allegedly being an accessory after the fact in connection to the dramatic escape. Her grandson Jermaine Donald broke free from Orleans Justice Center on May 16 alongside nine other inmates following a dramatic toilet-hole breakout. Five inmates are still roaming free after the brazen breakout which involved carving a hole behind a toilet and crawling through it to escape the facility. Louisiana State Police revealed Weeden's alleged involvement in a damning press release on May 22. Investigators discovered that the grandmother was in regular contact with her fugitive grandson both before and after the jailbreak. The investigation uncovered evidence that Weeden was speaking to Donald over the phone in the lead-up to the escape and continued providing assistance even after he had fled the facility. Five inmates are still roaming free after the brazen breakout which involved carving a hole behind a toilet and crawling through it to escape the facility Police say she even provided cash to the dangerous fugitive through a mobile phone app, potentially helping to fund his life on the run. The escapees still at large include Donald, 43, along with Derrick Groves, 28, Antoine Massey, 33, Leo Tate, 32, and Lenton Vanburen Jr., 27, according to Louisiana State Police officials. The inmates who have been successfully located and returned to custody include Corey Boyd, 20, Kendall Myles, 21, Gary Price, 21, Dkenan Dennis, 24, and Robert Moody, 22. This comes after a Louisiana jail worker was arrested after admitting to helping the group of violent criminals escape by turning off the water supply to their cell. According to Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson, the inmates managed to escape from their cell after breaching a wall behind a toilet. Authorities believe sheriff's employees may have helped, and three have been suspended. On Tuesday, authorities announced their first staff arrest. Sterling Williams, 33, confessed that one of the escapees 'advised him to turn the water off in the cell' before the men slipped away through the hole in the wall, according to Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill. In an arrest affidavit, Williams said one of the inmates who escaped had threatened to 'shank' him if he did not turn off the water. Williams said one of the inmates who escaped had threatened to 'shank' him if he did not turn off the water Another inmate tried to take Williams' phone and attempted to get him to bring a book with cash app information. Williams, who worked in maintenance at the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office, was arrested on Monday. Authorities said by turning off the water, Williams 'willfully and maliciously assisted with the escape.' 'If the inmates removed the sink in the cell and disconnected the rest of the plumbing with the water still on, the plan to escape would not have been successful and potentially flooded the cell, drawing attention to their actions,' the affidavit stated. He was booked at Orleans Parish jail, then relocated to another facility and charged with 10 counts of simple escape and malfeasance in office. 'This is a continuing investigation, and we will provide updates as often as possible. We will uncover all the facts eventually and anyone who aided and abetted will be prosecuted to the full extent the law allows,' Murrill said. 'I encourage anyone who knows anything and even those who may have provided assistance to come forward now to obtain the best possible outcome in their particular case.' Sterling Williams (pictured), 33, has been arrested for helping a group of violent criminals escape by turning off the water to their cell block During a New Orleans City Council meeting on Tuesday, Hutson said she 'takes full accountability' for the escape. 'There were procedural failures and missed notifications, but there were also intentional wrongdoings - this was a coordinated effort aided by individuals inside our own agency who made the choice to break the law,' she said. 'We are continuing to pursue everyone involved.'
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
New Orleans police make another arrest in ongoing jail escape investigation
Another suspect accused of helping inmates escape from a New Orleans jail was arrested Friday, authorities said. The New Orleans Police Department said officers detained four people at a home, including Emmitt Weber, 28, who was arrested on suspicion of accessory after the fact of simple escape. Police said Weber helped two of the inmates after the jailbreak at the Orleans Parish Correctional Facility. Inmate Arrested In Connection With Orleans Justice Center Escape Weber is the latest suspect arrested for allegedly aiding those involved in the May 16 escape. As of Friday, five of the 10 escaped inmates were still at large. The most recent arrest was made when Corey Boyd was taken into custody Tuesday. Read On The Fox News App The other inmates recaptured are Kendell Myles, Robert Moody, Dkenan Dennis and Gary Price. Two others — Casey Smith and Cortnie Harris — have been arrested for allegedly aiding the escapees. Another woman, Connie Weeden, 59, allegedly gave cash to Donald via a cellphone app. Louisiana Police Arrest Third Accomplice In Orleans Parish Jailbreak She is charged with one felony count of accessory after the fact. The following fugitives are still at large: Lenton J. Vanburen Jr., 26, faces charges of illegal carrying of weapons, possession of a firearm or weapon by a felon, obstruction of justice and introducing contraband in prison. Jermaine Donald, 42, faces charges of second-degree murder, aggravated battery, possession of a firearm or weapon by a felon and obstruction of justice. Antoine Massey, 32, faces charges of domestic abuse involving strangulation, theft of a motor vehicle and a parole violation. Derrick Groves, 27, faces three counts of attempted second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and battery of a correctional facility employee. Leo O. Tate Sr., 31, faces charges of simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling, possession of a firearm or weapon by a felon, illegal carrying of a weapon, motor vehicle theft and multiple drug counts. Authorities have reminded the public that these men are considered armed and article source: New Orleans police make another arrest in ongoing jail escape investigation
Fox News
24-05-2025
- Fox News
New Orleans police make another arrest in ongoing jail escape investigation
Another suspect accused of helping inmates escape from a New Orleans jail was arrested Friday, authorities said. The New Orleans Police Department said officers detained four people at a home, including Emmitt Weber, 28, who was arrested on suspicion of accessory after the fact of simple escape. Police said Weber helped two of the inmates after the jailbreak at the Orleans Parish Correctional Facility. Weber is the latest suspect arrested for allegedly aiding those involved in the May 16 escape. As of Friday, five of the 10 escaped inmates were still at large. The most recent arrest was made when Corey Boyd was taken into custody Tuesday. The other inmates recaptured are Kendell Myles, Robert Moody, Dkenan Dennis and Gary Price. Two others — Casey Smith and Cortnie Harris — have been arrested for allegedly aiding the escapees. Another woman, Connie Weeden, 59, allegedly gave cash to Donald via a cellphone app. She is charged with one felony count of accessory after the fact. The following fugitives are still at large: Authorities have reminded the public that these men are considered armed and dangerous.
Fox News
23-05-2025
- Fox News
Inmate arrested in connection with Orleans Justice Center escape
An inmate has been arrested as part of the ongoing investigation into the recent escape at the Orleans Justice Center, according to Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill. The inmate, Trevon Williams, was already in custody at the time of the May 16 escape from Orleans Justice Center. Authorities now plan to file additional charges against him related to his alleged involvement in the incident that allowed 10 incarcerated individuals to escape from the jail in New Orleans. Authorities did not elaborate on Williams' alleged role. "While Trevon Williams was already incarcerated, we will be filing additional charges related to the escape," Murrill said in a post on X Friday. "We will continue our investigation and follow all of the facts to ensure we get accountability." Williams is the latest person implicated in what has become a growing criminal conspiracy to help 10 inmates flee the jail on May 16. "As I promised when we initiated our investigation, we will hold absolutely everyone who contributed any role to the prison break in New Orleans accountable," Murrill added. As of Friday evening, five citizens have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the escape. Casey Smith, 30, was arrested on Thursday and is accused of helping two fugitives immediately after the jailbreak by transporting them to multiple locations. Louisiana State Police on Thursday announced that 59-year-old Connie Weeden of Slidell, Louisiana, has been taken into custody on one felony count of being an accessory after the fact. According to state police, Weeden was in contact with escapee Jermaine Donald by phone both before and after his jailbreak. She also allegedly provided him with cash via a cellphone app after his escape. WATCH: Stunning video shows New Orleans inmates escaping jail Two other women, Cortnie Harris and Corvanntay Baptiste, were arrested and charged on Wednesday for allegedly being accessories after the fact in assisting the jailbreak. A maintenance worker at the jail, Sterling Williams, was arrested and charged on Tuesday for allegedly cutting a cell's water supply so the inmates could remove a toilet and escape through a hole behind it. He was charged with 10 counts of principal to simple escape and one count of malfeasance in office for allegedly turning off the water in the cell from which the escapees fled. He is being held on $1.1 million bond, $100,000 per count, in the Plaquemines Parish Jail. The following fugitives are still at large: Authorities have reminded the public that these individuals are considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information relevant to this ongoing multi-agency investigation is encouraged to contact law enforcement. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by calling Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 1-877-903-STOP.
Reuters
23-05-2025
- Reuters
Fifth person arrested on suspicion of aiding New Orleans escapees
May 23 (Reuters) - A fifth person has been arrested on suspicion of helping some of the 10 inmates who staged a daring escape from a New Orleans jail that was caught on security video, authorities said on Friday. Authorities apprehended Casey Smith, 30, who allegedly helped two escapees who had broken out of the Orleans Justice Center in the early morning hours of May 16, police said Friday in a statement. She helped the inmates "as they were transported to multiple locations in hours following their escape." As of Friday afternoon, five of the escapees had been captured, while five others remained at large. Smith was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of being an accessory after the fact to simple escape. On Thursday, Louisiana State Police said 59-year-old Connie Weeden was arrested after allegedly providing funds to escapee Jermaine Donald. Two other women, Cortnie Harris, 32, and Corvanntay Baptiste, 38, were arrested earlier in the week on suspicion of being accessories after the fact, state police said. A maintenance worker at the jail, Sterling Williams, 33, was also arrested for allegedly assisting in the escape. Williams admitted to agents that he had turned off the water supply to a cell at the request of one inmate, who then tore off a sink and toilet from the wall and fled through the hole, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said on Tuesday. The inmates made their way out of the jail through the hole and out of a loading dock before scaling a wall and running across a highway, security video showed. According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Williams said the inmate had threatened to cut him with a "shank" - a jailhouse term for a homemade knife - if he did not comply. The inmates were discovered missing during a morning headcount. Williams did not report the inmate and allowed "the inmates to carry out their scheme to successfully escape," Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said on Tuesday in a statement. He was booked into Orleans Parish jail, then relocated to another facility and charged with 10 counts of simple escape and malfeasance in office.
