In a shocking turn of events, ten inmates have escaped from the Orleans Parish Jail in New Orleans, leading authorities to suspect possible inside help from staff. As a manhunt ensues, the local community is on high alert as several of the escapees are considered armed and dangerous.
Inside Help Suspected in New Orleans Jail Break as Manhunt Intensifies
Inside Help Suspected in New Orleans Jail Break as Manhunt Intensifies
Ten inmates, including murder suspects, escaped from a New Orleans jail, prompting fears of inside assistance and a major manhunt in the city.
Ten prisoners, including several facing murder charges, have made a dramatic escape from Orleans Parish Jail in New Orleans, raising alarms that they may have had assistance from inside the facility. The mass break-out occurred around midnight, with officials discovering the inmates missing during a routine headcount at 08:30 local time on Friday. As of now, one of the escapees has been recaptured.
Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson addressed the media, stating, "There's no way for anyone to get out of this facility without help," highlighting the suspicion surrounding the escape. Notably, the sheriff's office released images that detail how the escape was orchestrated, including messages left by the escapees that possessed a mocking tone, reading "To Easy LoL."
Reporting indicates that one inmate, Kendall Myles, was identified and apprehended using facial recognition technology after he was seen on surveillance video. Myles attempted to evade capture but was ultimately found hiding beneath a vehicle in a nearby parking garage. Authorities have since transported him back to custody with an added charge of Simple Escape.
While authorities initially reported that 11 inmates had fled, this was later corrected to a total of ten. Sheriff Hutson described how the inmates were able to manipulate their environment, pulling a sliding door off its tracks and escaping through a hole made by ripping a toilet from the wall. The escapees had meticulously ripped out metal bars to widen their passage and climbed down a wall before making their escape across a highway.
Sheriff Hutson's office has shared detailed images of the escape routes, which show neat cuts on the metal bars and graffiti-like messages scrawled by the inmates, reminiscent of playful taunts aimed at law enforcement.
New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick has labeled the situation as "urgent and serious," urging the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious behavior. She notified victims related to several escapees who are charged with serious offenses, including murder. Citing the collaborative nature of the investigation, she revealed that local police have enlisted help from the FBI and US Marshals in the ongoing search for the remaining escapees.
With the Orleans Parish Jail located just about 3 km from the vibrant French Quarter, the escape poses a concerning threat to public safety in the area. Authorities advise that anyone who provided assistance in the jailbreak would face charges, as the community and law enforcement brace for an intense manhunt.
