NEW ORLEANS — Ten inmates broke out of the Orleans Justice Center in a calculated overnight escape on May 16 that involved breaching a wall behind a toilet, exiting through a loading dock and scaling a perimeter fence, the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office said.
Surveillance footage released by the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office shows the inmates sprinting from the facility in two waves. The group used blankets to protect themselves from barbed wire as they climbed the fence before running across a nearby interstate and disappearing into a neighborhood.
No correctional officers were assigned to the pod where the inmates were housed at the time of the escape, according to the Associated Press. A civilian correctional monitoring technician was present but had stepped away to get food when the inmates breached their cell and fled.
One of the escapees, 20-year-old Kendell Myles, was taken into custody the afternoon of May 16 following a brief foot pursuit through the French Quarter. He was found hiding beneath a car in a hotel parking garage and was rebooked on an additional charge of simple escape. Myles, who is charged with attempted second-degree murder, had previously escaped twice from juvenile detention facilities, the Associated Press reports.
By the evening of May 16, two additional escapees were also captured. Robert Moody, 21, was located in New Orleans after a CrimeStoppers tip led authorities to his whereabouts. Later that night, Dkenan Dennis was apprehended near the Chef Menteur Highway, the sheriff’s office said.
Initially, officials believed 11 inmates had fled, but one man was later located inside the facility and had been misidentified during the initial headcount. The sheriff’s office now confirms 10 individuals escaped, with seven still at large.
How the escape unfolded
The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office said that the facility had been placed on lockdown at 10:30 p.m. on May 15. Despite that, the inmates began tampering with a locked cell door at approximately 12:23 a.m. on May 16. They managed to break it open using tools that have not yet been identified.
The inmates breached a wall behind a toilet — a blind spot not visible from the control module — and entered a maintenance corridor, the sheriff’s office said. At approximately 1:01 a.m. on May 16, the inmates exited through a loading dock door, scaled a wall and fled the property. Surveillance video confirms the inmates crossed the interstate shortly after.
The escape was not discovered until a routine 8:30 a.m. headcount on May 16. Jail leadership was notified five minutes later, and law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Marshals, Louisiana State Police, and Probation and Parole were contacted by 9:30 a.m. New Orleans police were notified through the Fusion Center.
Surveillance coverage did not capture the breach as the inmates used a blind spot behind a toilet wall not visible from the control module.
Infrastructure and staffing issues
The escape has drawn attention to longstanding issues within the facility. In a statement, the sheriff’s office confirmed that roughly one-third of the jail’s security cameras are currently inoperable — including three in the unit where the escape occurred. The inmates had been moved to that unit while renovations, including new lock installations, were underway in their previous housing area.
“These folks that were able to get out did so because of defective locks on the cells,” Hutson said. “There’s no way people can get out of this facility without some lapse. We intend to find out exactly what happened.”
Hutson also acknowledged ongoing staffing shortages that have made it difficult to monitor all 24 pods within the jail. At the time of the escape, 36 staff members and four supervisors were on duty.
Hutson said there are indications “these detainees received assistance in their escape from inside our department.”
“It’s almost impossible — not completely — but almost impossible for anybody to get out of this facility without help from the outside,” she said.
OPSO is advocating for capital budget improvements to address these vulnerabilities, including an estimated $5.2 million needed to replace the jail’s defective locks.
Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office/Facebook
Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office/Facebook
Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office/Facebook
This photo obtained by The Associated Press on Friday, May 16, 2025, shows an opening inside a cell at the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans. (AP Photo)
AP
This photo combo shows inmates who escaped from a New Orleans jail, from left top: Keith A Lewis, Dkenan Dennis, Gary C Price, bottom from left, Robert Moody, Kendell Myles, Corey E Boyd. (Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office via AP)
AP
Who are the escaped inmates?
The escapees range in age from 19 to 42, with most in their 20s. Four of the men are facing charges of second-degree murder, according to the Associated Press.
One of them, Derrick Groves, was convicted last year of two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder for his role in a 2018 Mardi Gras Day shooting that left two men dead. He also faces a charge of battery on a corrections officer. Law enforcement has warned that Groves may attempt to locate witnesses involved in his murder trial.
Another escapee, Corey Boyd, is awaiting trial on a second-degree murder charge and has pleaded not guilty.
The other fugitives include Lenton Vanburen Jr. and Jermaine Donald, who also face murder charges. Their criminal histories have not been publicly detailed.
Sheriff Hutson said law enforcement agencies at every level are assisting with the search. Investigators are also reviewing surveillance footage showing the inmates breaking out of their cell through a small opening that led to a maintenance corridor.
Public safety and response
New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said potential victims and witnesses in cases connected to the escapees have been relocated for their safety. She added that it is likely the inmates have changed clothes and may be receiving outside help.
“We don’t want panic, but we do want people to be mindful,” Kirkpatrick said.
The FBI is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of any of the escapees. Sheriff Hutson emphasized that this remains a public safety issue and urged the public to stay alert and report any sightings.
This article, originally published May 16, has been updated with video and additional information.
