Authorities in Louisiana are intensifying a massive manhunt after nine inmates escaped from a New Orleans correctional facility in a middle-of-the-night breakout that involved internal assistance from jail staff.

According to Yahoo! News, ten men initially escaped from the Orleans Parish Justice Center in the early hours of May 16, 2025, though one has since been recaptured, and law enforcement is actively pursuing the nine who remain at large.

The incident began shortly after 12:23 a.m. when several inmates inside the jail began manipulating a cell door in an attempt to dislodge it from its track. According to Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson, the group managed to break open the door and continued to make progress toward escaping from the facility.

Inmates Breached Wall Behind Toilet to Flee

By approximately 1:01 a.m., the inmates had successfully escaped through a wall located behind a toilet, later captured on surveillance footage, climbing a wall and fleeing across a nearby interstate highway. This activity occurred despite the presence of a corrections monitoring technician who was inside the pod module at the time of the escape. Sheriff Hutson stated the breakout was facilitated by individuals within the jail system itself. “There was a corrections monitoring technician in the pod module to be watching that,” she said. “They were still able to exit the jail about 1:01 a.m. after breaching a wall behind a toilet in the jail."

Surveillance footage later showed the escapees climbing a wall and disappearing into the darkness as they crossed the interstate. The facility did not become aware of the breakout until a standard headcount was conducted at 8:30 a.m., at which point the jail was immediately placed under lockdown.

Corrections Staff Implicated Amidst Security Failures

In an alarming development, Sheriff Hutson acknowledged that some individuals “inside our department” played a role in enabling the escape. This revelation followed her earlier remarks that the incident was both “very serious and unacceptable.” Authorities have not yet specified the exact role these individuals played during the escape.

One of the ten escapees has since been taken into custody. Kendall Myles was apprehended by Louisiana State Police following a brief foot chase through the French Quarter on Friday. The other nine remain at large and are considered highly dangerous by law enforcement. The nine fugitives include Antoine Massey, Lenton Vanburen, Leo Tate, Derrick Groves, Jermain Donald, Corey Boyd, Gary Price, Robert Moody, and Decannon Dennis. Sheriff Hutson identified them as armed and dangerous, urging the public not to approach them.

Authorities Launch Multi-Agency Search Effort

Law enforcement has mobilized a comprehensive search operation involving local, state, and federal agencies. Sheriff Hutson said, “We’re actively working with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in a full-scale search operation.”

Initial reports had indicated that 11 inmates had escaped. However, that was later corrected when Sheriff Hutson clarified that inmate Keith Lewis had been moved to another cell and was never part of the escape group. Many of the escapees were being held on serious charges, including murder, attempted murder, strangulation-related domestic abuse, burglary, and illegal possession of firearms. Their criminal histories have only heightened the urgency of the ongoing manhunt.

Infrastructure Problems Cited in Investigation

Sheriff Hutson also pointed to persistent infrastructure problems at the Orleans Parish Justice Center as a contributing factor to the escape. She explained that the jail had been using outdated and faulty cell mechanisms that required extensive and costly repairs.

“These are the cells that we keep telling we need to replace at great cost in this facility,” she said. The deteriorating condition of the jail appears to have played a significant role in enabling the inmates to pull the cell door from its track and start the escape process.

The Orleans Parish Justice Center, already under scrutiny for past security and maintenance failures, may face renewed criticism and possible reforms in light of this event. Investigations into how the escape occurred and who within the department may have assisted are ongoing.

Public Urged to Remain Vigilant and Cautious

As the search continues, authorities are appealing to the public for any information that could assist in locating the remaining fugitives. Given the violent criminal backgrounds of several escapees, law enforcement emphasized the need for caution and warned citizens not to approach suspected individuals.

Despite one inmate being captured, the escape of nine dangerous prisoners remains a serious threat to public safety. Police have not released specific details about the areas where the search is being concentrated, citing the sensitivity of the operation. The Mississippi Department of Corrections and the U.S. Marshals Service are among the agencies assisting in the extensive manhunt. Officials continue to monitor surveillance footage, interview staff, and analyze possible escape routes that may have been used after the inmates fled the facility.