Latest news with #murderers
News.com.au
18-05-2025
- News.com.au
Wild video shows 10 violent inmates flee from New Orleans jail after breaking out
Wild video shows the moment 10 violent inmates were spotted sprinting away from a New Orleans jail under the cover of darkness — just moments after brazenly escaping via a hole covered by a toilet in one of the cells. The inmates, including several locked up for murder, broke out of the Orleans Parish Jail early Friday in an audacious overnight escape as the one lone guard assigned to their cell pod was away getting food, authorities said. In the moments leading up to the escape, surveillance footage captured the criminals prying open one of the cell doors before they all managed to squeeze through the tiny porthole, The NY Post reports. The fugitives — decked out in their orange and white prison garb — were then caught on camera running frantically away from the jail one by one. At least one inmate, who was clutching a blanket, was spotted taking a tumble as he fled, the clip shows. The gang then scaled a fence, using the blanket to avoid being cut by barbed wire, and then sprinted across the nearby interstate and into a neighbourhood, authorities said. They quickly ditched their jail uniforms, though it wasn't immediately clear how some were able to obtain regular clothing so quickly. Meanwhile, a photo later released by authorities showed the opening behind the toilet in a cell where the men escaped through — complete with a taunting message scrawled on the wall that read 'To (sic) Easy LOL' with an arrow pointing at the gap. Other messages declared 'Catch us when you can' and 'I'm/We Innocent.' The shocking escape was only discovered during a routine morning headcount some eight hours later. Seven of the escapees, including some charged with murder, remained on the lam as of Saturday. One of the criminals, Kendall Myles, 20, was apprehended after a brief foot chase through New Orleans' famed French Quarter soon after the escape. He had previously escaped twice from juvenile detention centres. By Friday evening, two more fugitives had been captured. Officials found Robert Moody, 21 — who was accused of drug trafficking, battery and obstruction of justice — in New Orleans thanks to a Crime Stoppers tip, the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office said. Dkenan Dennis, who was holed up on armed robbery and weapons charges, was found near the Chef Menteur Highway. The rest of the lammers have violent criminal histories, with officials fearing the convicts could be looking to settle old scores. Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson blamed the escape on defective locks and said there are indications that people inside her department 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 of the jail, where 1,400 people are being held. Three employees have been placed on suspension pending the outcome of a probe, authorities said. It wasn't immediately clear if any of the employees were suspected of helping with the escape.
The Guardian
17-05-2025
- The Guardian
Seven men still on the run after New Orleans jailbreak
Seven men – including one convicted in four killings and others charged with murder – remained on the run after a breakout at New Orleans' jail that officials fear may have been enabled by help from within their own ranks. A total of 10 men had participated in the brazen overnight escape by fleeing through a hole behind a toilet and scaling a wall while the lone guard assigned to their cell pod was away getting food. Three of the escapees had been captured within hours, according to officials, who on Saturday continued a frantic search overnight for those still on the loose. Surveillance footage, shared with media during a news conference, showed the escapees sprinting out of the facility – some wearing orange clothing and others in white. They scaled a fence, using blankets to avoid being cut by barbed wire, and then some could be seen sprinting across the nearby interstate and into a neighborhood. A photograph obtained by numerous news outlets, including the Guardian, showed the opening behind a toilet in a cell that the men escaped through after it was removed. Above the hole are scrawled messages that include profanities: 'To Easy LoL' with an arrow pointing at the gap, and 'catch us when you can'. The absence of the 10 men, who also utilized facility deficiencies that officials have long complained about in their escape, went unnoticed for hours. It was not until a routine morning headcount, more than seven hours later, that law enforcement learned of the escape. Officials from the sheriff's office say no deputy was at the pod where the fugitives had been held. There was a technician, a civilian, there to observe the pod, but she had stepped away to get food, they said. Soon after the escape, attempted murder suspect Kendall Myles, 20, was apprehended after a brief foot chase through the French Quarter. He had previously escaped twice from juvenile detention centers. By Friday evening, two more fugitives had been captured. Officials found battery suspect Robert Moody, 21, in New Orleans' Central City section thanks to a Crimestoppers tip, according to the Orleans parish sheriff's office, which runs the jail. Dkenan Dennis, an armed robbery suspect, was found near an eastern New Orleans highway, the Louisiana attorney general, Liz Murrill, announced on the social media platform X. The Orleans parish sheriff, Susan Hutson, said the men were able to get out of the Orleans Justice Center because of 'defective locks'. Hutson said she has continuously raised concerns about the locks to officials and, as recently as this week, advocated for money to fix the ailing infrastructure. Hutson said there are indications that people inside her department 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 of the jail, where 1,400 people are being held. The escapees yanked open a door to enter the cell with the hole at about 1am Friday. 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 sheriff's office on Friday night. The men shed their jail uniforms once out of the facility, and it is still unclear how some of them obtained regular clothing so quickly, officials said. Three sheriff's employees have been placed on suspension pending the outcome of the investigation. It was not immediately clear whether any of the employees were suspected of helping with the escape. Officials also didn't say if the guard who left to get food was among the three suspended. The escapees range in age from 19 to 42. Most are in their 20s. One of the fugitives, Derrick Groves, was convicted on two charges of second-degree murder and two charges of attempted second-degree murder at a trial in October for his role in a deadly quadruple shooting on Fat Tuesday in 2018. He also pleaded guilty to two charges of manslaughter in connection with a double killing in 2017 – and an unrelated charge of battery of a correctional facility employee filed against him in April 2024. Murder convictions carry mandatory life imprisonment. But he remained at New Orleans' jail rather than at a state prison after his attorney was suspended from practicing law and there were post-conviction proceedings related to his double murder trial pending against him. Law enforcement warned that Groves may attempt to locate witnesses in the murder trial. Four others – Corey Boyd, Lenton Vanburen, Jermaine Donald and Leo Tate – are charged with murder. Gary Price, 21, is charged with attempted murder. Hutson said the police department was actively working with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to search for the fugitives. Hutson said the jail is about 60% staffed. The Associated Press contributed reporting
Sky News
17-05-2025
- Sky News
Seven men on the run after audacious 'Shawshank' escape from New Orleans jail
Seven prisoners could be "frankly anywhere" in the US after breaking out of a New Orleans jail. Authorities have been left wondering - how did they do it? The audacious escape saw 10 men flee the jail on Friday through a hole behind a toilet and scale a wall, in scenes reminiscent of The Shawshank Redemption movie. The men are believed to have made their jailbreak while the lone guard assigned to their cell pod was away getting food. While three have been recaptured, seven of the men - among them accused murderers - remain at large. Prison officials believe they may have had inside help. Surveillance footage showed the escapees sprinting out of the Orleans Justice Centre, using blankets to scale a barbed wire fence and then sprinting across a nearby highway. The absence of the men went unnoticed for more than seven hours - officers only learned of their escape the next morning during a routine headcount. A photograph showing the hole the prisoners escaped through also revealed scrawled messages - including one saying "To Easy LoL" with an arrow pointing at the gap. They ditched their jail uniforms after leaving the facility - and it is still unclear how some of them obtained regular clothes so quickly, officials said. Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson said the men were able to get out because of "defective locks". Sheriff Hutson said there are indications that people inside her department helped the fugitives escape. "It's almost impossible, not completely, but almost impossible for anybody to get out of this facility without help." Who are the escaped men? The men range from 19 years old to 42, with most being in their 20s. One of the fugitives, Derrick Groves, was convicted on two charges of murder and two charges of attempted murder for his role in the 2018 Mardi Gras Day shootings of two men. Another escapee, Corey Boyd, had pleaded not guilty to a murder charge. Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams said some of the men "have a history of witness intimidation of citizens who were brave enough to speak up". Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill called the escape "beyond unacceptable" and said local authorities waited too long to inform the public. She said she reached out to neighbouring states to alert them about the escape, saying they have had plenty of time to get to "frankly anywhere across the country".
Sky News
17-05-2025
- Sky News
Eight men on the run after audacious 'Shawshank' escape from US jail
Eight prisoners could be "frankly anywhere" in the US after breaking out of a New Orleans jail. Authorities have been left wondering - how did they do it? The audacious escape saw 10 men flee the jail on Friday through a hole behind a toilet and scale a wall, in scenes reminiscent of The Shawshank Redemption movie. The men are believed to have made their jailbreak while the lone guard assigned to their cell pod was away getting food. While two have been recaptured, eight of the men - among them accused murderers - remain at large. Prison officials believe they may have had inside help. Surveillance footage showed the escapees sprinting out of the Orleans Justice Centre, using blankets to scale a barbed wire fence and then sprinting across a nearby highway. The absence of the men went unnoticed for more than seven hours - officers only learned of their escape the next morning during a routine headcount. A photograph showing the hole the prisoners escaped through also revealed scrawled messages - including one saying "To Easy LoL" with an arrow pointing at the gap. They ditched their jail uniforms after leaving the facility - and it is still unclear how some of them obtained regular clothes so quickly, officials said. Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson said the men were able to get out because of "defective locks". Sheriff Hutson said there are indications that people inside her department helped the fugitives escape. "It's almost impossible, not completely, but almost impossible for anybody to get out of this facility without help." Who are the escaped men? The men range from 19 years old to 42, with most being in their 20s. One of the fugitives, Derrick Groves, was convicted on two charges of murder and two charges of attempted murder for his role in the 2018 Mardi Gras Day shootings of two men. Another escapee, Corey Boyd, had pleaded not guilty to a murder charge. Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams said some of the men "have a history of witness intimidation of citizens who were brave enough to speak up". Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill called the escape "beyond unacceptable" and said local authorities waited too long to inform the public. She said she reached out to neighbouring states to alert them about the escape, saying they have had plenty of time to get to "frankly anywhere across the country".
The Guardian
14-05-2025
- The Guardian
From the archive: What lies beneath: the secrets of France's top serial killer expert
We are raiding the Guardian long read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2021: An intrepid expert with dozens of books to his name, Stéphane Bourgoin was a bestselling author, famous in France for having interviewed more than 70 notorious murderers. Then an anonymous collective began to investigate his past By Scott Sayare. Read by Simon Vance
