Ten inmates last week escaped from the Orleans Justice Center by breaking through a wall hidden behind a toilet, an incident authorities say may have involved inside help and exposes deep flaws in the facility’s infrastructure and oversight.
The escape unfolded in the early hours of Friday May 16, 2025. Around 1 a.m., the group of inmates, ranging in age from 19 to 42, slipped through a compromised wall in their cell block and exited the facility through a supply-loading area.
From there, it is believed, they scaled a security wall and fled across the interstate in the cover of darkness. It wasn’t until nearly eight hours later, that jail personnel realized the inmates were missing during a standard headcount.
“We believe there was internal assistance. No one gets out of this facility without a serious lapse or help,” said Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson during a press briefing.
Evidence of tampering and messages left at the scene have raised serious concerns. A photo released by the sheriff’s office shows graffiti scrawled on the wall above the hole, reading “Too Easy LOL,” with an arrow pointing toward the escape route, a mocking message from the escapees that underscores the severity of the breach.
Of the ten who fled, only one, Kendell Myles, has been rearrested. Myles, previously charged with attempted second-degree murder, was found hiding under a car in a hotel parking garage. He now faces an additional charge of escape.
The remaining nine fugitives include men charged with violent offenses ranging from murder and aggravated assault to armed robbery and domestic abuse. Authorities initially thought 11 inmates had escaped, but a later review revealed that a clerical error had caused the miscount.
Officials now say the prison’s failing infrastructure and lack of adequate staffing were key factors in the escape. Locks on several cells were reportedly defective, and on the night of the breakout, staffing was severely limited, just four supervisors and 36 employees were managing over 1,400 detainees.
Chief of Corrections Jay Mallett said inmates used tools, possibly smuggled in or provided, to dismantle bolts and plumbing fixtures in a handicap-accessible cell. Surveillance footage captured the men exiting through a loading dock and scaling a perimeter wall.
“There’s no way this was done without help, either through negligence or active involvement,” Mallett said.
Three staff members have been suspended as part of the internal investigation. Authorities are also reviewing video footage and staff logs to determine whether employees may have knowingly aided the escape or failed to report signs of tampering.
The FBI’s New Orleans field office is now assisting with the manhunt and offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the fugitives. Meanwhile, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has called for criminal charges against anyone found to have assisted the escapees.
“This isn’t just a breakdown of facility security. It’s a failure of basic duty. Our prosecutors and staff were left in the dark for hours,” said District Attorney Jason Williams, whose office is just a few blocks from the jail.
Williams confirmed that one escapee, Derrick Groves, had previously been convicted of a double murder committed on Mardi Gras Day in 2018.
Law enforcement across multiple states has been alerted, as the inmates may have crossed state lines. Attorneys general from Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Tennessee have been contacted.
The sheriff’s office emphasized that the escapees are dangerous and should not be approached. As the search intensifies, the incident has raised urgent questions about prison management, funding for facility upgrades, and the protocols in place to protect the public.
Sheriff Hutson has pledged accountability and full transparency, noting that the jail needs more than 150 additional staff and over $5 million in repairs to meet minimum security standards.
“This event has exposed cracks we can no longer ignore. Our top priority is the safe capture of the remaining fugitives and restoring public trust,” she said.
