10 inmates escape New Orleans jail through hole in cell wall

Ten men escaped from a New Orleans jail on Friday, May 16, 2025, in a daring overnight breakout that exploited security flaws and apparent understaffing.

According to authorities, the inmates fled through a hole behind a toilet and scaled a wall while the only assigned guard for their cell pod was away retrieving food.

The escape remained undetected for over seven hours.

Of the ten escapees, seven, some facing serious charges such as murder, remain at large.

Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson stated during a press conference that the escape may have been aided by individuals within the jail system.

Surveillance footage revealed the men fleeing the facility, some in orange prison garb, others in white.

They used blankets to protect themselves from barbed wire while climbing a fence and were later seen crossing a nearby interstate and entering a residential area.

A photo shared with the Associated Press showed the escape hole behind a toilet, with graffiti above it reading “To Easy LoL” and an arrow pointing to the gap.

The men exploited well-known facility deficiencies, including broken locks and structural issues that had previously been flagged by jail officials.

Authorities did not realize the men were missing until the morning headcount at 8:30 a.m., over seven hours after they had escaped around 1 a.m.

Officials initially believed 11 men had fled, but later corrected that number to ten after confirming that one was in a different cell.

Sheriff Hutson confirmed no deputy was present at the time of the escape.

A civilian technician was supposed to be monitoring the pod but had stepped away for food.

One of the escapees, 20-year-old Kendall Myles, was apprehended later that day after a foot chase through the French Quarter.

Myles had previously escaped juvenile detention centers twice.

Two others were captured by Friday evening:

Robert Moody, 21, was found in New Orleans thanks to a Crimestoppers tip, and Dkenan Dennis was located near the Chef Menteur Highway, according to Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill.

The Louisiana State Police confirmed Saturday that the search for the remaining seven fugitives was ongoing.

Captured inmates were transported via helicopter to a state correctional facility outside of New Orleans.

Multiple law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels are coordinating the manhunt.

Sheriff Hutson blamed “defective locks” for enabling the escape and noted that she has repeatedly sought funding to address the jail’s deteriorating infrastructure.

She suggested that internal complicity likely played a role. “It’s almost impossible, not completely, but almost impossible for anybody to get out of this facility without help,” Hutson said.

An investigation revealed that at least one steel bar protecting plumbing had been intentionally cut, suggesting access to tools.

After escaping the facility, the men removed their prison uniforms, and it remains unclear how some of them acquired civilian clothing so quickly.

Three employees have been suspended pending an investigation, though it’s not yet confirmed whether any were involved in aiding the escape.

The fugitives are between the ages of 19 and 42, with most in their 20s.

Among them is Derrick Groves, who was convicted of two second-degree murders and two attempted second-degree murders stemming from a 2018 Mardi Gras shooting.

He also faces charges for assaulting a correctional employee. Authorities believe Groves may attempt to contact witnesses from his case.

Another fugitive, Corey Boyd, is awaiting trial for second-degree murder.

Sheriff Hutson confirmed that law enforcement agencies are working together to locate the escapees.

Facial recognition technology played a key role in capturing some individuals.

Bryan LaGarde, executive director of Project NOLA, said their network of over 5,000 cameras helped identify escapees in the French Quarter.

The escape has drawn criticism from both local and state officials.

Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams condemned the sheriff’s office for a delayed response, saying, “This represents a complete failure of the most basic responsibilities.”

Attorney General Murrill called the delay in alerting the public “beyond unacceptable” and has notified nearby states.

New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said her department is working with the FBI and U.S. Marshals.

She confirmed that people who may be at risk, including potential trial witnesses, are being protected.

One family has already been relocated.

New Orleans’ jail has long struggled with poor conditions and security failures.

In 2013, a federal judge deemed the jail unconstitutional.

Despite opening the Orleans Justice Center in 2015 to replace the aging Orleans Parish Prison, problems have persisted.

Staffing remains a major issue, currently at only 60%, and financial constraints prevent necessary repairs.

High-security inmates are being transferred to more secure facilities.

Chief Financial Officer Bianka Brown admitted they can’t afford contracts for maintenance, lock repairs, or infrastructure services.

Jay Mallett, Chief of Corrections, confirmed that many inmates required more secure housing than the jail could provide.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook