Five Inmates Remain Missing After Orleans Parish Jail Escape, Sheriff Criticized

NEW ORLEANS — The search for five fugitives continues on Wednesday following the Orleans Parish jailbreak. Since the escape of 10 inmates from the Orleans Justice Center on Friday, five have been apprehended, a jail employee has been detained, and two civilians are now facing felony charges for assisting the escapees.

Attorney General Liz Murrill visited the jail on Wednesday morning and confirmed that the area where the escape happened is still secured as a crime scene. In the meantime, Sheriff Susan Hutson has put her re-election campaign on hold amidst growing criticism from both city officials and the public.

On Wednesday, authorities announced the arrest of two individuals — 32-year-old Cortnie Harris of New Orleans and 38-year-old Corvanntay Baptiste of Slidell — for aiding the inmates post-escape. According to the Louisiana State Police, Harris had contact with an escapee prior to the jailbreak and transported two of them to various locations afterward. Baptiste is charged with assisting Corey Boyd, a recaptured escapee, by helping him hide and providing food during his time at large.

Both were booked into the Plaquemines Parish Detention Center and charged with one count each of accessory after the fact, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

The following inmates have been apprehended since the early Friday morning escape:

• Kendell Myles, 20 – Found hiding under a car in a French Quarter hotel garage Friday.
• Robert Moody, 21 – Captured Friday evening in Central City after a Crime Stoppers tip.
• Dkenan Dennis, 24 – Apprehended Friday night near Chef Menteur Hwy.
• Gary C. Price, 21 – Caught Monday in New Orleans East, found hiding in a vacant home.
• Corey Boyd, 19 – Arrested Tuesday in the Iberville Neighborhood near Basin Street.

The five men were transferred to Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, where they are now housed in a secured section.

According to court documents and OPSO officials, the escape occurred just after midnight Friday. Inmates dismantled a sink-toilet unit, crawled into a plumbing chase, and exited through a supply dock before scaling a perimeter wall using blankets.

Critical failures at the facility included:

• Broken cell locks.
• Three inoperable security cameras.
• A civilian monitoring technician who had left the control post.
• Lax response and communication delays that left agencies and the public uninformed for hours.

Photos obtained by WWL Louisiana showed the breach in the wall with graffiti mocking the facility’s security: “To (sic) easy lol.”

A 33-year-old maintenance worker, Sterling Williams, was arrested Monday night and charged with 10 counts of Principal to Simple Escape and one count of Malfeasance in Office. He allegedly shut off water lines to assist the inmates and admitted to acting under threat from escapee Antoine Massey.

Attorney General Liz Murrill dismissed the intimidation defense: “He made bad decisions… Anyone who aided and abetted will be prosecuted.”

After touring the jail Wednesday, Attorney General Liz Murrill said she believes OPSO staff are paying closer attention post-escape, but also made clear: “Everything has changed, and in some ways, nothing has.”

She declined to confirm how many high-risk inmates remain on lower levels but stressed the need for permanent facility upgrades:

“What I would say is we should invest on the front end instead of having to expend these resources on the back end. If we can make sure that they get the right locks and hinges on their doors… that saves us a lot of money.”

Murrill also confirmed her criminal investigation remains active and said more prosecutions may follow.

District Attorney Jason Williams revealed Tuesday that multiple staff members and witnesses have fled the city, fearing retaliation — particularly from escapee Derrick Groves, convicted of four killings and still at large.

One shooting survivor said he learned of the escape from his mother — not the authorities.

Sheriff Susan Hutson, facing mounting scrutiny, told City Council members Tuesday that she takes “full accountability” for the escape. However, she blamed long-standing infrastructure issues and underfunding for enabling the breach.

After a tense public hearing and calls for resignation, Hutson announced she is suspending her re-election campaign, citing a need to focus solely on public safety and jail reforms.

Councilmembers criticized OPSO’s transparency and financial practices, noting that the Sheriff’s Office does not participate in the city’s BRASS budget system.

A full audit of OPSO finances is now underway at the request of state lawmakers, and Council President JP Morrell called the delays in response “a substantial breach of public trust.”

The day after the escape, 63 of the 81 state inmates housed at OJC were transferred to other state facilities. Experts believe the high concentration of convicted felons in the jail played a role in the escape’s planning and execution.

The transfers were executed under an emergency order by Gov. Jeff Landry.

Authorities are still searching for these five escapees, all considered dangerous:

• Lenton Vanburen, 26 – Second-degree murder, armed robbery
• Antoine Massey, 32 – Domestic abuse, vehicle theft, repeat escapee
• Derrick Groves, 27 – Four homicides, awaiting sentencing
• Leo Tate, 31 – Weapons, drug, burglary charges
• Jermaine Donald, 42 – Second-degree murder, battery

Authorities urge the public to stay alert and report tips. Rewards of up to $20,000 per fugitive are available.

This is a developing story. Stay with WWL Louisiana for the latest verified updates.

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