Ten inmates escaped from the Orleans Justice Center jail in New Orleans early Friday morning after exploiting a hole behind a toilet, sparking a massive manhunt and raising alarms about security failures and potential inside help.
The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office reported the escape began around 12:22 a.m. when the inmates tampered with a cell door. Surveillance footage captured them entering the compromised cell and crawling through a wall opening concealed behind a toilet. The group then accessed a loading dock, scaled a barbed-wire fence using blankets as protection, and fled toward adjacent railroad tracks and Interstate 10.
“We have made progress,” said Orleans Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick, confirming three recaptures so far.
Kendell Myles, who faces attempted second-degree murder charges, was found hiding under a car in a French Quarter hotel garage. Robert Moody was arrested later Friday, though officials withheld specifics. Dkenan Dennis was apprehended near Chef Menteur Highway.
Eight inmates remain at large, including four charged with second-degree murder: Corey Boyd, Lenton Vanburen, Jermaine Donald, and Derrick Groves. Initial reports of 11 escapees were corrected after officials confirmed one inmate had been moved to another cell beforehand.
The breach wasn’t detected until a routine 8:30 a.m. headcount. Notifications reached federal and state agencies soon after, with New Orleans police alerted by 10:30 a.m.
Sheriff Susan Hutson suggested internal collusion enabled the escape: “It’s almost impossible to escape from this facility without assistance.” Investigators are also examining faulty cell locks as a contributing factor.
Discarded orange jail uniforms found in a nearby neighborhood indicate the fugitives may have changed clothes after fleeing. Authorities continue pursuing leads and urge the public to report suspicious activity.
The incident marks one of the largest jailbreaks in recent New Orleans history, exposing critical vulnerabilities in the detention facility’s security protocols.
