Latest news with #SterlingWilliams
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Retired FBI agent warns New Orleans prison escape 'should get everyone's attention'
A retired FBI special agent is sounding the alarm after 10 inmates escaped from a New Orleans jail, with five remaining at large, saying this incident "should get everyone's attention." "This wasn't a complicated escape. Ten inmates got out through a hole behind a toilet. It took more than seven hours before anyone noticed they were gone," Jason Pack, a retired FBI special agent, said to Fox News Digital. "That tells you a lot about what's going on inside that jail. Too few people on staff. Not enough oversight. And likely not enough working equipment or security checks." On Tuesday, an Orleans Parish Jail maintenance worker was arrested and charged in connection with the escape. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill shared in a statement that Sterling Williams, 33, had been arrested and charged with 10 counts of principal to simple escape and malfeasance in office. Louisiana Jail Worker Arrested For Allegedly Helping 10 Inmates Escape Orleans Parish Facility "Williams admitted to agents that one of the escapees advised him to turn the water off in the cell where the inmates escaped from," Murrill said in the statement. "Instead of reporting the inmate, Williams turned the water off as directed, allowing the inmates to carry out their scheme to successfully escape." Read On The Fox News App Pack said the inmates' choice to target a maintenance worker for help was a smart and calculated move. "If you think about it, maintenance people are not really looked after there. They're kind of low-key, and they have keys to doors. They have access to utilities and panels, so it was pretty smart to target him on the part of the criminals," Pack said. He added that the prison escape was also not a "crime of opportunity" and had most likely been planned for some time. "Inmates are resourceful when it comes to things on the inside. It's not out of the realm of possibility that they hatched this plan over a few days or a few weeks," Pack said. Additionally, Williams' arrest may not be the only one coming, Pack theorized, stating that this could be just the first initial wave of arrests as other employees had been suspended. "It seems like these inmates are going to exploit any crack in the system they can. And sometimes the cracks will lead to pressure whether waiting or not for folks who are in vulnerable positions. And that seemed to be what happened here, enough so that he (Williams) was able to turn the water off, they were able to pull the toilet out and escape through the corridor there and out the back door," Pack said. "And I think when we say jailbreak from now on, all of us are going to remember that video of the 10 people just fleeing out the jail." Pack added that "the bigger issue is what allowed this to happen in the first place." "That jail had just 36 officers working with over 1,000 inmates. That's not enough people to keep a place like that running safely. When staff are stretched that thin, it's easy for things to slip through the cracks. Most jails around the country are dealing with similar problems – low staffing, budget cuts and buildings that are falling apart," Pack said. The jail is only at 60% staffing, and at the time of the escape, four supervisors and 36 staff members were monitoring 1,400 inmates, authorities said. Louisiana State Police Captures 4Th Escaped Inmate In Nola Prison Break, 6 Still At Large Five of the 10 inmates remain on the run, with the fifth recaptured Tuesday in New Orleans. Corey Boyd, 19, who was briefly spotted last Friday hours after the jailbreak, was taken into custody Tuesday, the Louisiana State Police said. Boyd was originally jailed for second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, aggravated battery and threatening a public official. However, the escapee who is considered most dangerous is Derrick Groves, 27, who remains at large. He was convicted of killing two men during Mardi Gras in New Orleans' Ninth Ward in 2018 and was in jail awaiting sentencing. Louisiana Governor Blasts 'Progressive Promises' After New Orleans Jail Escape Pack said what makes this case more unique than other prison breaks is the number of convicts that escaped at once. "It's very unusual to have a 10-person manhunt in a prison escape like this. These don't happen regularly. And when they do, it just shows you the danger that folks can risk close to the community and why corrections officers are an important part of the law enforcement team," Pack said. "There is a nationwide shortage of correction officers around. They're low-paid and under-appreciated and it's a very difficult job dealing with inmates." Pack said the number one goal for law enforcement right now is getting the inmates "back into custody quickly and safely." "Some of them are facing serious charges, and when people are on the run, especially if they're scared, things can get dangerous fast. They might steal a car, break into a house, or hurt someone if they feel cornered. The longer this drags out, the more chance someone gets hurt," Pack said. The five fugitives still on the run are Groves, Jermaine Donald, 42, Antoine Massey, 33, Leo Tate, 31, and Lenton Vanburen, 27. Pack added that while it is unlikely any of the convicts fled the country, they would run into obstacles anywhere trying to run, as there are agencies nationwide and around the world assisting in locating them. "You can't outrun the feds, and you can't outrun the FBI or the Marshals Service, because they have offices around the country and indeed, around the world," Pack said. "So even if they do happen to make it to another country – I'm not suggesting that that's what's happened yet – but if they had to do that, the FBI and the Marshals and federal law enforcement have liaisons in other countries that are able to step in and help them even though they don't have jurisdiction there. "So you can run, you can hide, but you can't hide forever. And just because this case may lose traction in the media, it's not going to lose traction with law enforcement." Pack added that having no incidents reported since the inmates escaped has been a "miracle in itself." "The fugitives get desperate out there and so when they feel the pressure, and they're feeling the heat, sometimes they act in desperation. So hopefully they'll continue not to. It's possible and likely that they have people on the outside that are helping them hide out in these matters," Pack said. "Police don't want this to end with anyone getting injured, including the escapees. The goal is to find them, surround them, and bring them in without any drama," Pack continued. "That's what officers train for. It's not about chasing headlines. It's about doing the job carefully and professionally, even when the public is watching." Fox News Digital's Peter D'Abrosca, Michael Dorgan and Alex Koch contributed to this report. Original article source: Retired FBI agent warns New Orleans prison escape 'should get everyone's attention'
Fox News
24-05-2025
- Fox News
Retired FBI agent warns New Orleans prison escape 'should get everyone's attention'
A retired FBI special agent is sounding the alarm after 10 inmates escaped from a New Orleans jail, with five remaining at large, saying this incident "should get everyone's attention." "This wasn't a complicated escape. Ten inmates got out through a hole behind a toilet. It took more than seven hours before anyone noticed they were gone," Jason Pack, a retired FBI special agent, said to Fox News Digital. "That tells you a lot about what's going on inside that jail. Too few people on staff. Not enough oversight. And likely not enough working equipment or security checks." On Tuesday, an Orleans Parish Jail maintenance worker was arrested and charged in connection with the escape. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill shared in a statement that Sterling Williams, 33, had been arrested and charged with 10 counts of principal to simple escape and malfeasance in office. "Williams admitted to agents that one of the escapees advised him to turn the water off in the cell where the inmates escaped from," Murrill said in the statement. "Instead of reporting the inmate, Williams turned the water off as directed, allowing the inmates to carry out their scheme to successfully escape." Pack said the inmates' choice to target a maintenance worker for help was a smart and calculated move. "If you think about it, maintenance people are not really looked after there. They're kind of low-key, and they have keys to doors. They have access to utilities and panels, so it was pretty smart to target him on the part of the criminals," Pack said. He added that the prison escape was also not a "crime of opportunity" and had most likely been planned for some time. "Inmates are resourceful when it comes to things on the inside. It's not out of the realm of possibility that they hatched this plan over a few days or a few weeks," Pack said. Additionally, Williams' arrest may not be the only one coming, Pack theorized, stating that this could be just the first initial wave of arrests as other employees had been suspended. "It seems like these inmates are going to exploit any crack in the system they can. And sometimes the cracks will lead to pressure whether waiting or not for folks who are in vulnerable positions. And that seemed to be what happened here, enough so that he (Williams) was able to turn the water off, they were able to pull the toilet out and escape through the corridor there and out the back door," Pack said. "And I think when we say jailbreak from now on, all of us are going to remember that video of the 10 people just fleeing out the jail." Pack added that "the bigger issue is what allowed this to happen in the first place." "That jail had just 36 officers working with over 1,000 inmates. That's not enough people to keep a place like that running safely. When staff are stretched that thin, it's easy for things to slip through the cracks. Most jails around the country are dealing with similar problems – low staffing, budget cuts and buildings that are falling apart," Pack said. The jail is only at 60% staffing, and at the time of the escape, four supervisors and 36 staff members were monitoring 1,400 inmates, authorities said. "This escape isn't just a New Orleans problem. It's a warning sign for everyone. If your jail hasn't reviewed its security procedures, staffing levels or blind spots lately, now's the time. Nobody wants to be the next story on the news." Five of the 10 inmates remain on the run, with the fifth recaptured Tuesday in New Orleans. Corey Boyd, 19, who was briefly spotted last Friday hours after the jailbreak, was taken into custody Tuesday, the Louisiana State Police said. Boyd was originally jailed for second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, aggravated battery and threatening a public official. However, the escapee who is considered most dangerous is Derrick Groves, 27, who remains at large. He was convicted of killing two men during Mardi Gras in New Orleans' Ninth Ward in 2018 and was in jail awaiting sentencing. Pack said what makes this case more unique than other prison breaks is the number of convicts that escaped at once. "It's very unusual to have a 10-person manhunt in a prison escape like this. These don't happen regularly. And when they do, it just shows you the danger that folks can risk close to the community and why corrections officers are an important part of the law enforcement team," Pack said. "There is a nationwide shortage of correction officers around. They're low-paid and under-appreciated and it's a very difficult job dealing with inmates." Pack said the number one goal for law enforcement right now is getting the inmates "back into custody quickly and safely." "Some of them are facing serious charges, and when people are on the run, especially if they're scared, things can get dangerous fast. They might steal a car, break into a house, or hurt someone if they feel cornered. The longer this drags out, the more chance someone gets hurt," Pack said. The five fugitives still on the run are Groves, Jermaine Donald, 42, Antoine Massey, 33, Leo Tate, 31, and Lenton Vanburen, 27. Pack added that while it is unlikely any of the convicts fled the country, they would run into obstacles anywhere trying to run, as there are agencies nationwide and around the world assisting in locating them. "You can't outrun the feds, and you can't outrun the FBI or the Marshals Service, because they have offices around the country and indeed, around the world," Pack said. "So even if they do happen to make it to another country – I'm not suggesting that that's what's happened yet – but if they had to do that, the FBI and the Marshals and federal law enforcement have liaisons in other countries that are able to step in and help them even though they don't have jurisdiction there. "So you can run, you can hide, but you can't hide forever. And just because this case may lose traction in the media, it's not going to lose traction with law enforcement." Pack added that having no incidents reported since the inmates escaped has been a "miracle in itself." "The fugitives get desperate out there and so when they feel the pressure, and they're feeling the heat, sometimes they act in desperation. So hopefully they'll continue not to. It's possible and likely that they have people on the outside that are helping them hide out in these matters," Pack said. "Police don't want this to end with anyone getting injured, including the escapees. The goal is to find them, surround them, and bring them in without any drama," Pack continued. "That's what officers train for. It's not about chasing headlines. It's about doing the job carefully and professionally, even when the public is watching." Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to
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.
CBS News
23-05-2025
- CBS News
Fourth person arrested, accused of aiding inmate in New Orleans jail escape
How police caught some of the New Orleans escaped inmates A fourth person has been arrested in connection with the escape of 10 inmates last week from a New Orleans jail, authorities said. Louisiana State Police announced Thursday 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 provided him with cash via a cell phone app after his escape. Donald is one of five escaped inmates who remain at large. Five have been captured. From top left, DKenan Dennis, Gary Price, Robert Moody, Kendell Myles and Corey Boyd are seen in a combination of photos provided by the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office. From bottom left, Lenton VanBuren, Jermaine Donald, Antoine Massey, Derrick Groves and Leo Tate are seen. Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office via AP On Monday, Sterling Williams, a 33-year-old maintenance worker at the jail, was arrested on charges that he shut off water to a cell that the inmates used in the escape by removing a toilet from the wall, the office of Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said. Then on Wednesday, state police reported that 32-year-old Cortnie Harris of New Orleans, and 38-year-old Corvanntay Baptiste of Slidell, were also arrested on charges of being accessories after the fact. The brazen escape from the Orleans Parish Justice Center occurred in the early morning hours of May 16. The escape, part of which was captured on surveillance video, showed the inmates removing a jail cell door off the track and breaching a wall behind the toilet of a cell. The inmates climbed a fence that separated the jail from a construction cite, and eventually sprinted across a freeway. The escape wasn't discovered until more than seven hours later, at about 8:30 a.m. on May 19. The Orleans Justice Center jail, left, in New Orleans is seen on Friday, May 16, 2025. Brett Duke/The Advocate via AP
Times
22-05-2025
- Times
New Orleans jailbreak: escaped inmates still on the run — latest
A New Orleans jail employee arrested on suspicion of aiding the escape of ten inmates claims he was forced to help or else he would be 'shanked'. Sterling Williams, 33, a maintenance worker, has been charged with ten counts of principal to simple escape and one count of malfeasance in office in connection with the breakout on Friday. The Louisiana attorney-general's office said Williams admitted turning off the water stream to a toilet so the inmates could remove it and squeeze through a hole in a wall behind it. Williams said one of the escapers had threatened to 'shank' him if he did not turn off the water, according to an arrest affidavit. Williams's lawyer said he intends to plead not guilty. Police allege in
