Jailbreak In New Orleans Exposes Deep Failures In Security And Oversight

 

A dramatic jailbreak from the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans has resulted in five inmates being recaptured and five others still on the run. The escape has triggered a citywide alert, a high-stakes manhunt, and sweeping investigations into systemic failures at the facility — including the arrest of a staff member allegedly involved in aiding the escape.

Fifth Inmate Caught, Maintenance Worker Arrested

Corey Boyd, 19, was apprehended Tuesday, days after he and nine others escaped just after midnight on Friday. His capture came as authorities arrested Sterling Williams, a maintenance worker with the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, for allegedly facilitating the breakout. According to investigators, Williams faces 10 counts of principal to simple escape and one count of malfeasance in office, with a bond set at $1.1 million.

An affidavit reveals that Williams initially provided evasive responses but later admitted that inmate Antoine Massey had threatened him, forcing him to disable the water supply to the cell used in the escape. Investigators believe Williams may have assisted over several days, not just the night of the escape.

A Familiar Face Among the Escapees

Antoine Massey, one of the escapees still at large, is no stranger to breaking out of jail. In 2019, he and another inmate escaped from the Morehouse Parish Detention Center by cutting through a fence in broad daylight. They were recaptured the same evening in Texas. Massey’s involvement in this latest escape underscores what authorities describe as a coordinated effort involving both inmates and insiders.

Inside the Escape: Gaps in Oversight and Infrastructure

The escape unfolded after the jail went into lockdown at 10:30 p.m. Thursday. By just after midnight, inmates began pulling at the door of Cell Delta 1006. A technician had temporarily stepped away, and no one was actively monitoring surveillance feeds. The door gave way, and the inmates moved between cells before squeezing through a hole behind a metal toilet.

Carrying blankets to shield themselves from barbed wire, the inmates scaled a fence, crossed Interstate 10, changed clothes in a nearby neighborhood, and vanished. Before leaving, they taunted staff with graffiti above the escape hole reading: “To Easy LoL.”

Despite the scale of the escape, it wasn’t discovered until a head count at 8:30 a.m. Friday — over eight hours later.

Sheriff and Officials Face Backlash

Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson called the breakout a “coordinated effort” and admitted that staff had skipped or failed to properly conduct security checks. She blamed outdated surveillance systems, staffing shortages, and blind spots in supervision for creating vulnerabilities long known to officials but unaddressed in funding requests.

“We’ve raised these issues repeatedly,” Hutson said. “Now, the consequences are undeniable.”

State Audit Ordered

In response, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has ordered a full audit of jail operations by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. The audit team will assess jail security protocols, staffing practices, and internal policies. The last audit occurred in 2014.

“The recent jailbreak has eroded public confidence,” said Public Safety Secretary Gary Westcott. “Our goal is to ensure that all local jails operate securely, legally, and efficiently.”

The Hunt Continues

Boyd, along with Dkenan Dennis, Robert Moody, Kendell Myles, and Gary Price, are now in custody at the maximum-security Louisiana State Penitentiary. However, five inmates — Massey, Jermaine Donald, Derrick Groves, Leo Tate, and Lenton Vanburen — remain at large.

As law enforcement agencies intensify the search, the escape has laid bare the serious flaws within the Orleans Justice Center, raising urgent questions about oversight, infrastructure, and accountability in one of Louisiana’s most troubled correctional facilities.