A horrible security lapse has seen ten inmates slip out of the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans through a hole made behind a toilet in their cell. It happened overnight while the only guard assigned to the cell pod was busy going somewhere else to get food; thereby, the place was left without a guardian. No one could notice this curious event until the routine headcount was done at 8:30 a.m. the following morning.
One of the escaped prisoners, Derrick Groves, is sentenced to prison for two second-degree murders concerning a shooting incident that took place during Mardi Gras in 2018. The others also face murder, armed robbery, and kidnapping charges. At this moment, three runaways have been reconquered while seven are still free.
Footages from the surveillance cameras discover the inmates' escape route: after breaching the wall via the toilet, they accessed a pipe chase, reached a loading dock, and scaled a wall and barbed wire fence using blankets. Graffiti near the escape route read "We Innocent" and "Too Easy LOL", clearly indicating the ease with which they broke free.
Troopers & partner agencies worked overnight to find the 7 remaining escapees from Orleans Parish Jail. 3 are in custody, and LSP Air Support & SWAT transferred them to a secure state facility. The search remains active with multiple agencies working nonstop. pic.twitter.com/4wo7NJAmOi
â LA State Police (@LAStatePolice) May 17, 2025
Sheriff Susan Hutson has stated that internal help might have contributed to this escape, along with suspending three employees pending investigation. She blamed defective locks, age-old infrastructure, and shortages in staff strength besides other areas. Therefore, this jail, due to its continued challenges with security matters in staffing, has been under federal authority for more than a decade.
Law enforcement agencies from the FBI and U.S. Marshals are involved in the ongoing hunt, which employs facial recognition systems and surveillance. The authorities have asked the public to report suspicious activity, warning of a charge as accomplices to anyone who is found helping the escapees.
It raises serious questions about the management of high-risk inmates by the facility and demands serious contemplation, investigation, and immediate reforms.
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