Latest news with #Weeden
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Why the Grandmother of One of the New Orleans Jail Escapees is Now Behind Bars
The fallout of the historic New Orleans jailbreak continues. A little over a week after the biggest planned escape in Louisiana history, Americans are watching closely as eight out of 10 inmates have since been apprehended. And those accused of assisting the fugitives are finding themselves in hot water as well. Multiple people have been arrested and accused of assisting the Orleans Justice Center's escaped fugitives, the latest of which is Connie Weeden, per WDSU News in New Orleans. Weeden, of Slidell, who is Jermaine Donald's grandmother, was arrested on Thursday night. Investigators revealed that Weeden, 59, 'provided cash to Donald via a cellphone app.' Weeden was found in Slidell as a result of the investigation and placed under arrest. She currently faces 'a charge of felony accessory after the fact and was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center.' Weeden joins Cortnie Harris and Corvanntay Baptiste as women who have been arrested for allegedly helping the inmate's jailbreak. Harris and Baptiste were charged on May 22, as we previously reported. As of Tuesday, May 7th, eight of the escaped inmates have been arrested, with two inmates still on the run, per CNN. Donald and Leo Tate were found outside of Louisiana, in Texas, on Monday, and arrested after a 'high-speed chase involving multiple law enforcement agencies.' Donald, whose original charges were illegal carrying of a weapon and second-degree murder, was 'charged with outstanding warrants for escape and resisting an officer,' while Tate was charged with 'outstanding warrants for aggravated escape and escape from custody.' Tate's original charge was obstruction of justice. The two inmates still at large are Antoine Massey and Derrick Groves. As we reported, this all began on May 16 when ten men broke out of the Orleans Parish Justice Center. Since the investigation began, numerous jail employees have been arrested in connection with the escape. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill shared in a statement last week, '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.' For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Global News
23-05-2025
- Global News
Fourth person arrested for aiding escaped inmates in New Orleans jailbreak
Louisiana State Police have arrested a fourth person in connection to the New Orleans jailbreak that saw 10 men escape last week, with five remaining at large. Connie Weeden, a 59-year-old woman from Slidell, was arrested and charged on May 22 with one count of being an accessory after the fact for allegedly 'assisting the fugitives' in the May 16 escape, according to police. 'The initial investigation revealed that Weeden was in contact via phone before and after the escape with escapee Jermaine Donald (who remains at large). Furthermore, investigators determined that after the escape, Weeden provided cash to Donald via a cell phone app,' police said in a Facebook post. Weeden was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center. It remains unclear whether she has retained a lawyer. Story continues below advertisement Two other women, Cortnie Harris, 32, and Corvanntay Baptiste, 38, were also arrested and charged on May 21 for allegedly being accessories after the fact in assisting the jailbreak. Police revealed Harris was in contact via phone with an escapee who remains at large and determined that she transported two escapees to multiple locations in New Orleans. 'Investigators also determined that Corvanntay Baptiste was in contact via phone and social media with escapee Corey Boyd (captured) and helped facilitate getting him food while he was hiding in a residence,' police said in another Facebook post. 1:58 New Orleans prison break: Maintenance worker arrested over allegedly helping inmates escape A maintenance worker at the Orleans Parish jail was also arrested in connection to the jailbreak after authorities said he helped facilitate the escape. Sterling Williams, 33, is accused of cutting off the water so the inmates could pull the toilet from the wall, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a press release. Story continues below advertisement He is currently being held at Plaquemines Parish Detention Center on 10 counts of principle to simple escape and one count of malfeasance in office. Williams' lawyer is now claiming that the inmates clogged a toilet to shut the water off so that they could escape through a hole behind it. Williams did not know about the plan and did not allow the inmates to cut a pipe behind the toilet to create an opening for their escape, lawyer Michael Kennedy told The Associated Press. The defence lawyer laid out a very different narrative than the one presented by authorities a day earlier when Williams was arrested. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Authorities have said an inmate instructed Williams to turn off the water to a toilet, leading to one of the largest jailbreaks in recent U.S. history. Kennedy said that after a deputy called Williams to fix a toilet, he found it overflowing. 'This was clearly all part of an orchestrated plan,' Kennedy said. Williams 'was nothing more than the tool they used to turn off the water, which they knew would have to happen after clogging the toilet.' According to an arrest affidavit that made no mention of a clogged toilet, Williams was 'initially very evasive and untruthful' during an interview, but ultimately told investigators that an inmate had threatened to 'shank' him if he did not turn off the water. Story continues below advertisement Authorities have said that Williams could have reported the threat and escape plan. They asserted that because Williams turned the water off, the inmates were 'able to successfully make good' on their escape, the affidavit said. Kennedy said Williams did not report the escape because he was 'not aware' it was happening. The lawyer also addressed authorities' allegations that his client was threatened to help the men escape. 'He was not aware that there was going to be an escape,' Kennedy said. 'He was not conspiring with them. He had no knowledge that he was being used.' Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams and Murrill toured the jail on May 21. Williams told reporters after the tour that 'certainly more than one person' was responsible for the escape but declined to share further details. 3:07 New Orleans prison escape: 6 men still at large after largest jail break in Louisiana history Authorities are still scouring New Orleans for five escapees and have offered US$20,000 in rewards for tips leading to the arrest of the fugitives, many of whom were charged with or convicted of violent offences, including murder. Story continues below advertisement View image in full screen Louisiana State Police are still searching for the remaining Orleans Parish Prison escapees. Louisiana State Police / Facebook The latest arrest came Tuesday when a fifth fugitive, Corey Boyd, was taken into custody. Boyd, 19, was briefly spotted on May 16 hours after the escape. He was captured in New Orleans. He was originally jailed for second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, aggravated battery and threatening a public official. 'Boyd will ultimately be transported to a secure state facility outside of the area and booked for simple escape,' the state police said in a Facebook post. Fifth Fugitive Arrested from OPSO Inmate Escape Law enforcement agencies working collectively to locate the inmates who escaped from the Orleans Parish Correctional Facility on May 16, 2025, have arrested 19-year-old Corey Boyd. — LA State Police (@LAStatePolice) May 21, 2025 Story continues below advertisement On May 19, a fourth fugitive, Gary Price, was taken into custody. He was taken to a state facility outside of the New Orleans area and booked with additional counts of simple escape and possession of a Schedule II drug. Price was initially jailed on a May 6 count of attempted first-degree murder along with six domestic offences, including aggravated second-degree battery, aggravated assault with a firearm and domestic abuse battery. He hadn't entered a plea before he escaped the Orleans Parish Correctional Facility. Fourth Fugitive Arrested from OPSO Inmate Escape Law enforcement agencies working collectively to locate the inmates who escaped from the Orleans Parish Correctional Facility on May 16, 2025, have arrested 21-year-old Gary C. Price. — LA State Police (@LAStatePolice) May 20, 2025 Soon after the May 16 escape, one of the men, Kendall Myles, 20, was apprehended in the French Quarter of New Orleans after a brief foot chase. Story continues below advertisement Myles and the other two men who were captured earlier, Robert Moody, 21, and Dkenan Dennis, 24, were taken by helicopter to a state correctional facility outside the New Orleans area, Louisiana State Police said. Dennis had been charged with armed robbery with a firearm and illegal carrying of a weapon during a crime of violence, according to Murrill. Moody was facing a weapons charge and charges of attempted second-degree battery and obstruction. Murrill said both men will face additional charges for the escape. In a news conference on May 16, New Orleans Police Department Supt. Anne Kirkpatrick said the fugitives are dangerous but urged the public 'not to panic.' — With files from The Associated Press
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fourth person arrested, accused of aiding inmate in New Orleans jail escape
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. 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 its track and breaching a wall behind the toilet of a cell. The inmates climbed a fence that separated the jail from a construction site, 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. Weeden has been booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center. Trump confronts South African president during White House meeting, repeats genocide claims Trump takes questions during meeting with South African president Rubio, Jayapal have fiery exchange about Afrikaner refugee's antisemitic tweet, student visas
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Weeden Elementary School 6th grader named News 19 Student of the Week
FLORENCE, Ala. (WHNT) – For our News 19 Student of the Week, Ellie Byrd headed over to Weeden Elementary School in Florence, Alabama, to visit Kate Castellanos! Kate is a pretty special fifth grader, not only to her teachers but to her classmates as well. It's pretty easy to see why after you meet her. Spanish is her first language, and she uses it to help her classmates who are learning English feel more confident and included. 'I just think it's something I can do to help out in a small way, my mom would always speak Spanish to us growing up, so it was an easy thing for me,' said Kate Castellanos. Her teachers admire her deeply, not just for her language skills but for her incredible work ethic and maturity beyond her years. 'I've really never met another kiddo like her. She is so helpful and kind and really sets the bar high,' said Mrs. Johnson. Kate is the kind of student who never gives up, always asks thoughtful questions, and encourages others to do their best. You'll rarely see her without a book in hand. She reads at recess, in the lunch line and even while waiting for the bus. Her love for reading has made her a regular in the school library, where she formed a special bond with Mrs. Johnson, the librarian. 'She walks into school with her nose in a book and she comes in here probably a couple of times a day, I mean she loves reading that much,' said Mrs. Johnson. To Kate, Mrs. Johnson isn't just a teacher — she's a best friend, a mentor, and someone who truly understands her passion for learning. Mrs. Johnson often says she's never met a student quite like Kate, so determined, compassionate and curious about the world. 'We'll read together, or sometimes I'll read to her, but I just am thankful for a teacher like her. She really is my good friend,' Kate said. Kate will stay at Weeden next year and take on the 6th grade, where she will continue to inspire the school. You go, Kate! We here at News 19 are so happy for you! We know there are only a few weeks left in the semester, but we want to highlight all the amazing kiddos around the valley. So, if you would like to nominate a student of the week, email us at studentoftheweek@ Tune in every Thursday at 6 a.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tolls for Cape Cod bridges? Official floats idea during town meeting
Gov. Maura Healey shot down the idea of charging tolls on the Cape Cod bridges on Wednesday, after a local official raised the idea earlier this week. Mashpee Select Board Vice Chair David Weeden floated the idea at a meeting Monday. 'I'd advocate for tolls to be imposed at the bridges,' Weeden said. 'Over 35 million vehicles come across those two bridges combined annually. Even if you did $2 an axle, only calculating cars, you'd bring in about $70 million a year. That money should be earmarked specifically to leverage [state revolving fund] funds and go towards coastal and water quality issues.' Weeden suggested the state could look into just tolling people coming from off-Cape, using EZ Pass technology to identify residents so they could get on and off the bridges without paying tolls. 'Massachusetts reaps the benefits of Cape Cod tourism, and it's a significant amount of money that comes into the state through the tourism that we receive here, and on the Cape they come over here and they leave their stuff behind, and then we're left to deal with it. So, you know, charging a modest rate,' Weeden said. Asked about the idea after an unrelated event at the State House on Wednesday, Healey immediately shot it down. 'I don't support the tolls on the bridges,' she said. Healey talked about her administration's efforts to replace the Bourne and Sagamore bridges. The Healey administration is eyeing 2027 to start work, beginning with the Sagamore Bridge, though the state has so far only secured just half of the two-bridge project's more than $4.5 billion price tag. 'I hope to make continued progress on the bridges,' Healey said. 'That's been something that we've prioritized, to move ahead on. But, no tolls on the bridges.' The Massachusetts Department of Transportation told Boston 25 News, 'MassDOT is not considering tolls on the Cape Cod bridges.' Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
