By Emily Herr
The Scoop Digital Newspaper: June 2025
NEW ORLEANS, La. – A six-week-long, intensive manhunt in New Orleans has seen remarkable success in recapturing most of the ten inmates who orchestrated a brazen escape from the Orleans Justice Center in the early hours of May 16, 2025. However, as of late June, one dangerous fugitive, Derrick Groves, a convicted double murderer, remains at large, keeping law enforcement agencies on high alert and the community vigilant.
The daring jailbreak, one of the largest in recent New Orleans history, involved a startling array of security breaches. Surveillance footage revealed the inmates exploiting faulty cell door locks, then removing a toilet to access a maintenance tunnel. From there, they reportedly cut through steel bars behind the toilet, squeezed through the opening, and finally scaled a barbed-wire fence, using blankets for protection, before fleeing into the night. A taunting message, “To Easy LoL,” was found scrawled near the escape route, highlighting the audacious nature of the breakout. The escape went unnoticed for hours, only being discovered during a routine morning headcount.
Since the May 16 incident, law enforcement, including the New Orleans Police Department, Louisiana State Police, the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service, have mounted a coordinated and relentless effort to track down the escapees. Their efforts have paid off, with nine of the ten fugitives now back in custody.
The Recapture Effort: A Mix of Swift Action, Tips, and Persistent Tracking
The capture of the nine escapees has been a multi-faceted effort, demonstrating effective inter-agency cooperation and the crucial role of public assistance:
- Initial Captures (May 16-20): Three of the inmates were recaptured on the very day of the escape, May 16. These swift apprehensions suggest they may not have gotten far or were quickly identified by local patrols. A fourth was caught on May 19, and a fifth on May 20. For instance, Kendall Myles was found by Louisiana State Police hiding under a car at a hotel garage in the French Quarter. These early successes were likely due to immediate search perimeters and initial surveillance.
- Expanded Searches and Intelligence (Late May): As the days turned into weeks, the search expanded beyond the immediate vicinity of the jail. Intelligence gathering, including analyzing phone records and social media activity, became paramount.
- Lenton Vanburen was captured on May 26 in Baton Rouge, indicating a regional reach for some of the fugitives.
- Leo Tate and Jermaine Donald were both apprehended on May 26 in Walker County, Texas, highlighting the extensive surveillance efforts by the U.S. Marshals Service and cross-state coordination. This demonstrates how some escapees attempted to put significant distance between themselves and New Orleans.
- Tips and Public Vigilance Lead to Key Arrests: The public’s role, often through anonymous tips, proved invaluable, particularly in the later stages of the manhunt.
- The most recent recapture came on June 27, 2025, when Antoine Massey, 33, was apprehended by U.S. Marshals at a residence in the Hollygrove neighborhood of New Orleans. Massey’s capture was a significant breakthrough, especially given his prior history of escaping custody. His arrest came after authorities received a tip directly from Crimestoppers Greater New Orleans, as well as a direct phone tip to Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson. Massey, who had even appeared in a viral social media video proclaiming his innocence while on the run, was taken into custody peacefully after law enforcement surrounded the house.
The collective effort, combining traditional policing tactics with modern intelligence and community engagement, allowed authorities to systematically bring the escapees back into custody.
The Remaining Fugitive: Derrick Groves
While the majority of the escapees have been caught, the focus now squarely rests on Derrick Groves, 27. Groves was convicted in October 2024 of two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder stemming from a 2018 Mardi Gras double homicide. He also pleaded guilty to battery of a correctional officer, underscoring the potential danger he poses. Groves was last seen on surveillance footage hours after the escape, walking with other recaptured escapees in the city’s Central Business District. Despite investigations into tips linking him to various locations, and a $50,000 reward offered by Crimestoppers Greater New Orleans, the FBI, and other agencies, his whereabouts remain unknown.
The investigation into the escape has also revealed a network of alleged accomplices. Authorities have arrested at least 16 individuals accused of assisting the inmates both before and after their breakout. These include a former jail employee, family members, and acquaintances who allegedly provided food, cash, transportation, and shelter. A jail maintenance worker was also arrested, accused of turning off water in certain cells, which purportedly aided the escapees in removing the toilet.
The mass escape has drawn significant criticism towards the management of the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Susan Hutson, with officials pointing to infrastructural vulnerabilities and communication failures within the facility. Sheriff Hutson has largely attributed the escape to “defective locks” and the inability to implement needed improvements at the 10-year-old facility.
New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick, addressing Groves directly at a recent press conference, urged him to “peacefully turn yourself in,” emphasizing that law enforcement will not rest until he is back in custody. “Just like we found Mr. Massey today, we will find Mr. Groves,” stated Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Walter Martin, reaffirming the commitment of all agencies involved.
The community remains on edge, and authorities continue to appeal to the public for any information that could lead to Groves’ capture, reminding citizens that tips can remain anonymous. The ongoing manhunt for Derrick Groves serves as a stark reminder of the persistent challenges in maintaining secure correctional facilities and the critical importance of inter-agency cooperation and public vigilance in ensuring safety.
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The Scoop Digital Newspaper
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