10 Inmates Escape New Orleans Jail Through Hidden Hole Behind Toilet, Manhunt Underway

File Source:AI
A shocking pre-dawn jailbreak has rocked the Orleans Parish correctional system, as ten inmates escaped early Friday morning by slipping through a concealed hole behind a toilet, sparking a widespread manhunt and exposing glaring security failures.

Authorities say the inmates, some facing serious charges including second-degree murder, managed to break out of the Orleans Parish jail just after midnight at approximately 12:22 a.m., exploiting a flaw in the cell structure that had gone undetected for more than eight hours.

“The escape began shortly after midnight, at approximately 12:22 a.m., when the group manipulated a cell door mechanism, gaining access to a neighboring cell,” officials from the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office reported. “From there, they slipped through a hole in the wall hidden behind a toilet.”

Once free from their housing unit, the escapees navigated a complex path: slipping past a loading dock, scaling a barbed-wire fence with blankets fashioned into makeshift ropes, and disappearing into the night via nearby railroad tracks and the interstate.

Of the ten escapees, eight remain at large. Among them are four men with pending second-degree murder charges: Corey Boyd, Lenton Vanburen, Jermaine Donald, and Derrick Groves.

The remaining two who have been recaptured include Kendell Myles, who was found hiding under a vehicle in a French Quarter hotel parking garage, and Robert Moody, whose apprehension details remain undisclosed. A third escapee, Dkenan Dennis, was located and detained near Chef Menteur Highway.

Initial confusion clouded the scope of the breakout, with early reports suggesting 11 inmates had fled. However, authorities later clarified that one of the supposed escapees had been relocated before the incident.

In a troubling development, Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson revealed that jail staff were unaware of the escape until the 8:30 a.m. headcount—more than eight hours after the prisoners had already fled. The New Orleans Police Department was not notified until roughly 10:30 a.m.

An internal investigation is now underway to determine whether the breakout was a result of negligence or deliberate assistance from inside.

“We have made progress,” said Orleans Parish Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick, referencing the recovery of three escapees. “But there’s still a lot of work to be done.”

The daring escape has triggered state and federal involvement, with law enforcement agencies coordinating efforts to locate and apprehend the remaining fugitives. Officials have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity as the search continues.

The incident has cast a harsh spotlight on the Orleans Parish jail’s infrastructure, staffing, and overall readiness, raising critical concerns about the facility’s ability to contain high-risk detainees.