In New Orleans, a daring jailbreak rattled authorities when 10 inmates managed to escape by exploiting a hole behind a toilet and then scaling a prison fence. The incident unfolded almost a week ago, and since then, five of these fugitives have been recaptured while the other five are still at large. The escape has sparked suspicion that internal assistance may have been provided, leading to the suspension of three jail employees. Currently, a maintenance worker stands as the only person arrested, accused of aiding the prisoners in their getaway.
On May 15, at 10:30 p.m., the jail initiated its regular lockdown routine. However, by the early hours of May 16, specifically 12:20 a.m., the unfolding drama began. As the jail’s lone guard was away procuring food, prisoners forced a cell door open and exploited a hole cut behind a sink-toilet unit, which they had cleverly removed. The tools used to breach the steel bars remain undisclosed, and it’s uncertain how the inmates procured them. It seemed the water supply to the toilet had been turned off, enabling the inmates to move it without triggering a flood. Authorities suggest that this might have been done earlier as part of the escape plan. Allegedly, Sterling Williams, a maintenance worker, had turned off the water following an inmate’s directive, although his attorney argues that a deputy had instructed Williams to unclog a toilet, necessitating the water shut-off.
Security footage around 1:01 a.m. captures the dramatic exit of the ten escapees. They dashed out of the jail, flung blankets over a barbed-wire fence, climbed over, and some even sprinted across a nearby highway. It wasn’t until 6:30 a.m. that a head count was scheduled, a process normally concluded swiftly. Yet on this day, jail officials were still verifying the inmates’ status over two hours later, seeking to confirm who had escaped, noted Jeworski “Jay” Mallett, the chief of corrections. Sheriff Susan Hutson and Mallett are now scrutinizing the delay in identifying and reporting the jailbreak. Precisely when staff realized the escapees’ absence is, as yet, unspecified.
By around 8:45 a.m., the jail had declared a lockdown. Approximately 45 minutes later, Sheriff Hutson officially alerted a law enforcement task force to the escape. New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick indicated she learned about the escape through indirect channels rather than directly from the sheriff’s office. By 11:30 a.m., law enforcement convened a news briefing to discuss the escape’s progress. By midday, the first escapee, Kendall Myles, was apprehended in the French Quarter following a brief pursuit. Identified through the city’s facial recognition network, Myles faced charges including attempted second-degree murder and armed robbery and had previously escaped juvenile custody.
That evening, two other escapees, Robert Moody and Dkenan Dennis, were caught in separate incidents across New Orleans. Moody had been detained on charges of illegal weapon possession with narcotics, attempted battery, and obstruction, while Dennis faced charges that included armed robbery with a firearm. On May 19, a fourth escapee, Gary C. Price, was taken into custody, previously charged with first-degree murder, domestic abuse, and aggravated assault. The following day, Williams was arrested on a bond of $1.1 million and accused of facilitating the escape, facing ten counts of a principal to simple escape and one count of malfeasance in office. Authorities reported that Williams conceded turning off the water in the cell, supposedly under threat from an inmate; however, his appointed attorney, Michael Kennedy, argued Williams did not perceive such threats seriously.
By this time, another fugitive, Corey Boyd, facing second-degree murder allegations, was also recaptured. In response to the crisis, Sheriff Hutson has temporarily suspended her reelection campaign, emphasizing the need for a concentrated focus on improving security and public safety. On May 21, Kennedy met with Williams for further discussions about his role in the incident. He claims the sheriff’s office is attempting to scapegoat Williams to divert blame. That afternoon, police announced the arrest of two additional individuals believed to have assisted some escapees. Cortnie Harris, 32, allegedly helped transport escapees within New Orleans, and Corvanntay Baptiste, 38, was charged with aiding Boyd by supplying food while he remained in hiding. Both face felony charges of being accessories after the fact.