Ten Inmates Escape New Orleans Jail Through Hole Behind Toilet in Overnight Breakout

New Orleans | M10News

Ten inmates escaped from the Orleans Parish jail in New Orleans early Friday morning after navigating through a hole behind a toilet, sparking a major manhunt and raising serious concerns over security at the facility.

The escape began at approximately 12:22 am, according to the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, when the group tampered with a cell door and gained access to a compromised cell. Surveillance footage captured the inmates slipping through a hole in the wall located behind a toilet.

Once outside the cell, the escapees exited the building via a loading dock, scaled a barbed-wire fence using blankets, and fled towards nearby railroad tracks and Interstate 10.

Orleans Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said progress has been made in the search. So far, three inmates have been recaptured.

Kendell Myles, who faces attempted second-degree murder charges, was found hiding beneath a vehicle in a French Quarter hotel garage.

Robert Moody was also apprehended, although no details have been released about his arrest. A third escapee, Dkenan Dennis, was located near Chef Menteur Highway.

Eight inmates remain at large, including four accused of second-degree murder: Corey Boyd, Lenton Vanburen, Jermaine Donald, and Derrick Groves.

Initial reports suggested 11 inmates had escaped, but authorities later clarified that one had been moved to another cell before the breakout occurred.

Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson confirmed that the escape was not discovered until a routine headcount at 8:30 am.

Federal and state law enforcement were notified shortly after, with the New Orleans Police Department informed by 10:30am.

Hutson admitted that internal assistance is strongly suspected of facilitating the escape.

“It’s almost impossible to escape from this facility without help,” she said. Faulty cell locks are also being considered a possible contributing factor.

Discarded orange prison uniforms were found in a nearby neighbourhood, suggesting the inmates may have changed clothes shortly after fleeing.

Law enforcement agencies continue to search for the remaining escapees and are urging the public to report any suspicious activity.