Ten inmates, some facing serious charges including murder, have escaped from Orleans Parish Jail in New Orleans, and authorities suspect that internal staff may have assisted in the jailbreak. The escape occurred around midnight, but was only noticed during a headcount at 08:30 local time on Friday. As of now, one of the escapees has been recaptured. Sheriff Susan Hutson explained at a news conference that the escape could not have happened without help from within the facility, highlighting that external obstacles made it almost impossible otherwise.
Surveillance footage revealed how the ten inmates broke free, with images of messages they allegedly left behind, including one stating "To Easy LoL." A single inmate, identified as Kendall Myles, was apprehended in the French Quarter after an intense search. He had been caught on camera and was found hiding under a car in a parking garage. After his arrest, he was taken back to the jail for new charges related to the escape.
While initial reports stated that 11 inmates had escaped, the total was later corrected to 10. Sheriff Hutson detailed the mechanics of the escape, noting that the inmates managed to rip a sliding cell door off its tracks prior to breaking pipes from a wall-mounted toilet. They then squeezed through a newly formed gap, climbing down and running across a nearby highway.
In the wake of the jailbreak, New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick emphasized the severity of the situation and warned that residents should report any unusual activity they observe. She confirmed that victims of the escapees have been notified, and noted that those who assisted the inmates would face charges. An extensive search involving the FBI and U.S. Marshals has commenced, as the inmates are considered armed and dangerous, and it is believed they might no longer be in prison attire. Orleans Parish Jail is conveniently located near downtown, about 3 km from the well-known French Quarter, heightening the urgency of the hunt.
Surveillance footage revealed how the ten inmates broke free, with images of messages they allegedly left behind, including one stating "To Easy LoL." A single inmate, identified as Kendall Myles, was apprehended in the French Quarter after an intense search. He had been caught on camera and was found hiding under a car in a parking garage. After his arrest, he was taken back to the jail for new charges related to the escape.
While initial reports stated that 11 inmates had escaped, the total was later corrected to 10. Sheriff Hutson detailed the mechanics of the escape, noting that the inmates managed to rip a sliding cell door off its tracks prior to breaking pipes from a wall-mounted toilet. They then squeezed through a newly formed gap, climbing down and running across a nearby highway.
In the wake of the jailbreak, New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick emphasized the severity of the situation and warned that residents should report any unusual activity they observe. She confirmed that victims of the escapees have been notified, and noted that those who assisted the inmates would face charges. An extensive search involving the FBI and U.S. Marshals has commenced, as the inmates are considered armed and dangerous, and it is believed they might no longer be in prison attire. Orleans Parish Jail is conveniently located near downtown, about 3 km from the well-known French Quarter, heightening the urgency of the hunt.
