According to ABC News, Chaos erupted at the Orleans Parish Justice Center when 10 inmates, including three accused murderers, slipped through a plumbing tunnel to freedom. A maintenance worker’s betrayal set the stage for this brazen jailbreak, exposing glaring security failures. This isn’t just a story of escape—it’s a wake-up call for accountability.
On May 16, 2025, 10 inmates, three charged with second-degree murder, escaped from the New Orleans jail, with four recaptured, while a maintenance worker, Sterling Williams, was arrested for aiding their breakout. The escape, discovered during a morning headcount, has triggered suspensions of other employees and an ongoing investigation. Sheriff Susan Hutson has taken responsibility, but questions about systemic failures linger.
It all began around 1:01 a.m. on May 16, when inmates in cell 6 started tampering with a locked door. Surveillance footage caught them at it, slipping into the cell by 12:42 a.m. By 8:30 a.m., a headcount revealed the shocking truth: 10 men were gone.
Sterling Williams, a 33-year-old maintenance worker, allegedly turned off the water to a toilet in cell 6. This allowed inmates to rip the toilet from its hinges and crawl through the plumbing area. Williams’ actions, whether coerced or complicit, opened the door to disaster.
The inmates didn’t stop there. They tore through a wall behind the toilet, using blankets to shield themselves from barbed wire as they scaled the perimeter. From there, they fled via a loading dock, railroad tracks, and the interstate, vanishing into the night.
Williams faces 10 counts of principal to simple escape and one count of malfeasance in office. “He denied his involvement at the outset,” said Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, “but ... we’ve gotten more information.” Denials don’t erase the fact that his choices fueled a dangerous breakout.
Williams claimed inmate Antoine Massey threatened to “shank” him if he didn’t shut off the water. He also said Derrick Groves, a convicted murderer, tried to take his phone and demanded that he deliver a book with cash app details. If true, Williams had ample chance to report the threats but didn’t.
“If he was under threat, he should have brought that to someone’s attention,” Murrill said at a news conference. Coercion is a weak excuse when public safety is at stake. Actions have consequences, and Williams’ inaction put lives at risk.
By May 16, three escapees—Robert Moody, Dkenan Dennis, and Kendall Myles—were back in custody. Myles, held for attempted second-degree murder, was among the first recaptured. Yet three murder suspects, including Groves, remain at large, raising fears in the community.
On May 19, 21-year-old Gary C. Price was apprehended, followed by 19-year-old Corey Boyd, a second-degree murder suspect, on May 20. The manhunt continues for Groves, Lenton Vanburen, and Jermaine Donald, all charged with second-degree murder. Their freedom threatens public safety, and the clock is ticking.
“One of these individuals shot into a crowd,” said District Attorney Jason Williams, referring to Groves. His callous disregard for life makes his escape particularly chilling. A justice system that lets such men slip through the cracks needs serious reform.
Home surveillance video from 2 a.m. on May 16 showed Groves and two others in a downtown alley. “The public was denied the opportunity to participate in this manhunt for eight hours,” Jason Williams lamented. Timely alerts could have made all the difference.
Four other jail employees have been suspended as the investigation deepens. “Ten violent offenders don’t escape through concrete and barbed wire without inside assistance,” Jason Williams told ABC News. This wasn’t a solo act—it points to a broader failure of oversight.
Sheriff Hutson admitted, “This breach happened under my leadership.” Her candor is a start, but apologies don’t catch fugitives. The sheriff’s office must overhaul its security protocols to prevent another debacle.
“We intend to make sure this never happens again,” Murrill vowed. That’s a promise New Orleans residents deserve to see kept. A jail that can’t hold criminals isn’t just a building—it’s a broken system that demands accountability from the top down.
