• In a shocking incident where 10 inmates escape, the New Orleans jail witnessed ten inmates who fled through a hole behind a toilet while no guard was present.
• Seven escapees, including murder suspects, are still missing and may have received inside help.
• Officials face heavy criticism for delayed response and ongoing security failures at the jail.

Ten men escaped from the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans late Thursday night. They broke out by crawling through a hole behind a toilet inside one of the jail cells. After slipping through, they climbed a wall and made it outside. The only guard assigned to watch their cell pod had left to get food. The escape happened around 1 a.m. Authorities confirmed the breakout during a news conference on Friday. Seven of the men are still missing. Some of them face murder charges. Sheriff Susan Hutson said the men may have received help from someone working inside the jail.

Jail cameras show escapees running out and crossing the highway

Surveillance footage showed the men running from the jail. Some wore orange jail uniforms. Others had already changed into white clothing. They climbed a fence and used blankets to avoid barbed wire. Then they crossed the nearby interstate and vanished into a neighborhood. One photo, released by law enforcement, showed the hole they used to escape. It was located behind a toilet in one of the cells. Someone wrote “Too Easy LoL” above the hole and drew an arrow pointing at it. Jail staff did not realize the men were gone for more than seven hours. A morning headcount at 8:30 a.m. finally revealed the escape.

Jail left unguarded while technician left to get food

Officials said no deputy watched the pod at the time of the escape. A technician, who is a civilian worker, was there to monitor the pod. But she stepped away to get food. That gave the inmates time to act. The group broke open a door to reach the cell with the hole. One of the metal bars on the plumbing appeared to have been cut with a tool. The men crawled through, scaled the fence, and disappeared. After escaping, they took off their jail uniforms. Police don’t know how some of them got regular clothes so fast.

Three of the escapees captured by police within hours

Police caught one of the men, Kendall Myles, after a chase through the French Quarter. Myles is 20 years old. He had escaped from juvenile centers twice before. Later that day, police also found Robert Moody, 21, thanks to a CrimeStoppers tip. Officers caught Dkenan Dennis near Chef Menteur Highway. That brought the total number of captured inmates to three by Friday evening. Officials first thought 11 men escaped, but later confirmed that one man was still in a separate cell. That lowered the total number of escapees to 10.

Defective locks and possible staff involvement raised concerns

Sheriff Hutson blamed faulty locks for helping the men get out. She said she had warned leaders many times about the need for repairs. Just this week, she asked for money to fix the broken systems. She also said someone inside the department might have helped the escape. She explained that it’s very difficult to escape from the jail without inside help. The jail currently houses about 1,400 inmates. Jail officials said the facility has many security problems. They also revealed that three employees have been suspended. It’s not clear if any of them helped the men escape. They also haven’t said if the guard who left for food is one of the suspended workers.

Some fugitives convicted or charged with violent crimes

The fugitives range in age from 19 to 42. Most are in their twenties. One of the men, Derrick Groves, was convicted last year of two murders and two attempted murders. His crimes happened during Mardi Gras in 2018. He also faces charges for attacking a jail employee. Police believe Groves might try to find witnesses from his trial. Another fugitive, Corey Boyd, is facing a second-degree murder charge. He has pleaded not guilty. Sheriff Hutson said her team is working with local, state, and federal officers to search for the escapees. They are using every tool available to track them down.

Facial recognition helps locate escapees on New Orleans streets

Police used facial recognition to find some of the fugitives. Project NOLA, a nonprofit that operates thousands of security cameras in the city, helped with the search. The group entered images of the escapees into their system. Within minutes, they found two men walking through the French Quarter. Bryan LaGarde, director of Project NOLA, said the men looked nervous. They kept their heads down and checked over their shoulders. One of them eventually walked out of view of the cameras. LaGarde said the technology made it easier to respond quickly.

Officials slam jail for delay in alerting public and police

Local and state leaders strongly criticized the sheriff’s office. District Attorney Jason Williams said the delay in alerting police and the public was dangerous. He called it a total failure. Attorney General Liz Murrill also blasted the response. She said it was unacceptable and waited too long to warn nearby states. Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said her department launched a full search. They’re working closely with the FBI and U.S. Marshals. She also said officers are protecting people who may be targets of the fugitives. One family has already been moved to safety. Kirkpatrick warned the public that anyone helping the escapees will face charges.

New Orleans jail has a long history of serious problems

The jail in New Orleans has struggled for over a decade. It has been under federal monitoring since a judge ruled it unconstitutional in 2013. The current facility, called the Orleans Justice Center, opened in 2015 to replace the old Orleans Parish Prison. But problems like poor security and violence continue. Staff shortages have made things worse. Sheriff Hutson said only 60% of the positions are filled. Bianka Brown, the jail’s financial officer, said they don’t have the money for repairs. That includes fixing broken doors and locks.

Jail lacks high-security housing for violent offenders

Many of the inmates held at the jail are violent and need more secure housing. Chief of Corrections Jay Mallett said the current jail does not meet those needs. Some of the most dangerous inmates are being moved to other locations. Jail leaders are trying to prevent more problems, but the escape has exposed serious weaknesses. Officials say more funding, better staff levels, and stronger oversight are urgently needed.