Authorities in Louisiana are continuing their search for nine inmates who escaped a New Orleans jail on Friday. In a statement, the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office stated that eleven inmates were discovered to be missing during a morning “routine headcount.” According to a social media post from the Louisiana State Police, one inmate has since been apprehended in the French Quarter, a popular tourist destination. Another inmate suspected of escaping was found to be in another cell, leaving nine more still at large.
It is not yet clear exactly how the inmates escaped the Orleans Parish facility. It has been reported that one cell had an opening that led to a maintenance corridor, which investigators believe explains at least one inmate’s escape. A former law enforcement officer told the Associated Press that the small opening would typically have been covered by a sink and toilet, which in this case might have been removed. Blame is already being laid on officers staffing the facility. “There’s no excuse for this,” said Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill. “My office will do whatever it takes to determine how this happened and make sure that it won’t happen again.”
While Murrill’s statement indicates a mistake or oversight of some kind from guards at the facility, others believe they could have been in on the plan. Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson says there are indications that the escapees “received assistance in their escape from individuals inside of our department.” Others have given indications that the inmates received outside help, while stopping short of accusing officers. “It’s more than likely that someone had help and they are not running around in a jumpsuit,” said New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick.
The fugitives are between the ages of 19 and 42, with most being in their 20s. Among them is Derrick Groves, who was convicted of two murder charges and two attempted murder charges after killing two men on Mardi Gras in 2018. Corey Boyd, another escapee, is facing a second-degree murder charge, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
