- Ten violent inmates escaped from Orleans Parish Jail through a hidden hole behind a toilet.
- Authorities caught three escapees quickly, including one after a chase in the French Quarter.
- Officials suspect faulty locks and possible help from jail staff in the breakout.
A wild video shows ten violent inmates fleeing Orleans Parish Jail in New Orleans. They escaped under the cover of darkness early Friday. The inmates broke out through a hole hidden behind a toilet in one of the jail cells. Several of these men face murder charges. Authorities say the inmates acted while the only guard assigned to their cell pod was away getting food. The footage reveals the prisoners prying open a cell door and then squeezing through a small hole in the wall to make their escape.
Inmates Flee Jail Grounds Wearing Prison Uniforms, Some Struggle
The video captures the inmates running away from the jail one after another. They wore orange and white prison uniforms during the escape. One inmate even fell while clutching a blanket. The men then climbed over a fence surrounding the jail. They used the blanket to protect themselves from barbed wire. After they got past the fence, the inmates ran across a nearby interstate and into a residential neighborhood.
c Change Clothes Quickly, Leave Taunting Messages Behind
After fleeing the jail, the inmates quickly changed out of their prison uniforms. Authorities do not know how the men obtained regular clothes so fast. A photo released later shows the hole behind the toilet that the inmates used to escape. The wall near the hole had mocking messages written on it. One said “To Easy LoL” with an arrow pointing to the opening. Other messages taunted the jail staff with phrases like “Catch us when you can” and “I’m/We Innocent.”
Authorities Discover Escape Eight Hours Later During Headcount
Officials only realized the inmates had escaped during a routine headcount eight hours later. At that time, seven of the ten escapees remained on the run. Police quickly caught one fugitive, Kendall Myles, 20, after a short chase in the French Quarter. Myles had escaped twice before from juvenile detention centers. By Friday evening, authorities arrested two more men.
Two More Inmates Caught After Tips and Searches
Robert Moody, 21, faced charges of drug trafficking, battery, and obstruction of justice. Police caught him in New Orleans after a tip to Crime Stoppers. Dkenan Dennis, charged with armed robbery and weapons offenses, was found near Chef Menteur Highway. The remaining escapees have violent criminal histories. Officials fear these men could seek revenge or cause more trouble while on the run.
Sheriff Blames Faulty Locks and Possible Jail Staff Help
Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson said faulty locks caused the escape. She also suspects jail staff helped the inmates get out. Hutson said, “It’s almost impossible, not completely, but almost impossible for anybody to get out of this facility without help.” The jail holds about 1,400 inmates. Three employees have been suspended during the ongoing investigation. Authorities have not confirmed if any of the suspended staff assisted the escapees.
