ATLANTA (AP) — Derrick Groves, the last escaped inmate from a notorious jailbreak in Louisiana, has been found and captured in Atlanta, according to the U.S. Marshals. Groves was apprehended after months of evading authorities following an audacious escape from a New Orleans jail in May, where he and nine other inmates crawled through a hole behind a toilet. He was taken into custody after a brief standoff, confirming his status as the last fugitive from the high-profile breakout.
Groves, 28, was serving a sentence for murder, and his violent criminal history led authorities to offer a $50,000 reward for information leading to his recapture. He was hiding in a crawl space, said Deputy U.S. Marshal Brian Fair, revealing that Groves was concealed well within the house where he was found.
His mother, Stephanie Groves, expressed her distress upon learning about her son's capture. “I’m just glad it’s over with,” she said tearfully, reaching out for her son's well-being but unsure why he had fled to Atlanta.
The jailbreak, one of the largest in recent U.S. history, involved the inmates breaking open a faulty cell door and escaping through a strategically created hole. The breakout was compounded by accusations of insider help and security failures at the jail. Since the escape, numerous arrests have been made regarding individuals who supported the fugitives.
All ten escapees initially faced both their ongoing charges and additional escape charges, which could add up to several years of incarceration.
The capture of Groves marks the end of an extensive pursuit of the escapees, having been pinned against significant concerns about the enforcement and operational integrity of the New Orleans jail system.
Groves, 28, was serving a sentence for murder, and his violent criminal history led authorities to offer a $50,000 reward for information leading to his recapture. He was hiding in a crawl space, said Deputy U.S. Marshal Brian Fair, revealing that Groves was concealed well within the house where he was found.
His mother, Stephanie Groves, expressed her distress upon learning about her son's capture. “I’m just glad it’s over with,” she said tearfully, reaching out for her son's well-being but unsure why he had fled to Atlanta.
The jailbreak, one of the largest in recent U.S. history, involved the inmates breaking open a faulty cell door and escaping through a strategically created hole. The breakout was compounded by accusations of insider help and security failures at the jail. Since the escape, numerous arrests have been made regarding individuals who supported the fugitives.
All ten escapees initially faced both their ongoing charges and additional escape charges, which could add up to several years of incarceration.
The capture of Groves marks the end of an extensive pursuit of the escapees, having been pinned against significant concerns about the enforcement and operational integrity of the New Orleans jail system.
