Jailbreak Leaves Seven Inmates on the Run
Authorities in New Orleans continue an intensive manhunt following a highly-publicized jailbreak from the Orleans Parish Jail, originally involving eleven inmates, seven of whom remain at large. The jailbreak was discovered during a routine headcount around 8:30 a.m. Friday morning, triggering immediate searches and significant concern about public safety. Surveillance footage revealed the inmates forcibly opening a cell door and making their way through a loading dock. A large hole found behind a metal toilet in one of the cells appears to have facilitated their escape. Bedding materials were used to overcome barbed wire atop a perimeter wall, underscoring the lack of adequate security measures currently in place.
One of the escapists, Kendall Myles, was captured after a brief pursuit through the French Quarter. Despite this capture, law enforcement continues to classify the remaining fugitives as armed and dangerous. Among them is Derrick Groves, who faces serious charges for the shooting deaths of two men during Mardi Gras celebrations in 2018. This has significantly raised alarms across the community, prompting some victims’ families to go into hiding, fearing potential retribution.
“The inmates’ escape poses an immediate threat to public safety, and we are using all available resources to recapture them,” stated Sheriff Susan Hutson during a press briefing.
The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, working alongside the FBI, ATF, and U.S. Marshals, has intensified the search efforts. Rewards totalling $12,000—including contributions from the FBI ($5,000), ATF ($5,000), and Crimestoppers ($2,000)—have been announced to encourage information that leads to the inmates’ recapture.
Security Failures and Allegations of Inside Help
The escape highlighted critical vulnerabilities within the Orleans Parish Jail, including defective cell locks, essential camera outages, and inadequate high-security housing. Sheriff Hutson openly acknowledged these deficiencies, admitting that “one-third of the security cameras at the facility are inoperable, notably three cameras situated precisely in the area from which the inmates escaped.”
Beyond infrastructure issues, authorities disclosed concerning findings suggesting internal complicity. Jail officials revealed that the escape was caught on surveillance footage, clearly displaying inmates tampering with doors and exiting through a loading dock. Notably, one jail employee reportedly observed the incident on surveillance monitors as the escape unfolded but did not promptly report it to superiors, sparking suspicions of internal cooperation.
“This could not have happened without inside assistance,” Chief of Corrections Jeworski Mallett underscored during an update, emphasizing the severity of the breach.
Authorities have since opened an internal investigation into the potential assistance provided within the facility, promising swift action to identify and prosecute any involved personnel. The allegations of a neglected response by staff have brought into sharp relief concerns about operational standards and employee oversight.
Persistent Issues and Broader Implications for Jail Management
This incident is not isolated. It highlights a troubling recent history of security issues and escapes in the Orleans Parish Jail, a facility long criticized by experts and advocates for substandard conditions and inadequate security measures. Civil rights advocates and justice reform groups have frequently raised concerns about overcrowding, insufficient staffing, and neglectful oversight that compromises inmate security and public safety alike.
Historically, this jail has faced repeated scrutiny. A 2013 agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice sought to address systemic problems, such as poor medical care and inmate violence. Despite incremental improvements, critical gaps remain, posing persistent threats to safety and security. This latest episode underlines urgent calls to overhaul correctional practices fundamentally and addresses chronic infrastructure neglect.
Statistics from the Bureau of Justice Assistance indicate that facility escapes, while relatively rare nationwide, nearly always reflect deeper procedural or managerial problems within the institutions involved. Orleans Parish’s latest escape underscores these systemic failures starkly, leading city officials and civic leaders to demand immediate, transparent corrective actions.
Policy implications extend beyond this incident alone, potentially prompting broader reviews of correctional facilities statewide. Reform advocates argue that sustainable solutions demand increased funding for infrastructure repairs, enhanced staff training, and more rigorous internal oversight. Meanwhile, local law enforcement maintains an active communication strategy, urging community vigilance and cooperation as they continue to seek the fugitives across New Orleans and beyond.