Eleven inmates, including suspected murderers, have escaped from a prison in New Orleans.
Early Friday morning, ten inmates escaped from the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans, prompting law enforcement officials to label them as potentially armed and dangerous. The group of men was discovered missing during a routine headcount around 8:30 a.m., approximately eight and a half hours after their escape was believed to have taken place shortly after midnight. Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson, addressing the media at a press conference, emphasized the urgency of the situation and urged the community to remain vigilant as authorities initiated a comprehensive search operation.
Law enforcement efforts are being coordinated between the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Department, state police, and federal agencies to recapture the individuals. The charges faced by the escapees are serious, including offenses related to illegal weapons possession, rape, and murder, according to court documents sourced from local media.
As of Friday evening, one of the escapees, identified as Kendell Myles, has been apprehended. Louisiana State Police located him hiding beneath a car in the parking garage of the Hotel Monteleone, situated in the French Quarter and less than two miles from the prison. He has been returned to the Orleans Justice Center, where he faces an additional charge of simple escape.
New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick indicated that it is likely the remaining escapees had changed out of their prison attire. They include Dkenan Dennis, Gary Price, Robert Moody, Corey Boyd, Lenton VanBuren Jr., Jermaine Donald, Antoine Massey, Derrick Groves, and Leo Tate Sr. The details surrounding the nature of the escape remain unclear, though Sheriff Hutson suggested that the inmates might have received assistance from corrections staff or deputies.
Investigative reports from local media indicate that a possible breach occurred where a hole was found in the wall of one of the jail cells, specifically behind a toilet. Eyewitness accounts and photographs shared on social media describe messages scrawled on the wall, taunting authorities with phrases like “Too easy LOL” and “Catch us when you can.”
Sheriff Hutson noted that the inmates had used various toiletry items to remove the toilet and bolts, allowing them to scale a wall that led to their exit across Interstate 10. She confirmed that a full investigation is underway to ascertain how this escape transpired, which will involve a thorough review of facility protocols, staff performance, and security measures currently in place.
As the search continues for the remaining escapees, authorities are appealing to the public for information that could lead to their recapture. The situation highlights ongoing concerns regarding inmate security and the efficacy of correctional facility operations.
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