In early morning hours of May 16, 2025, a group of ten inmates staged a brazen jailbreak from the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans, one of Louisiana’s largest jailbreaks in history. The inmates took advantage of a weakness by removing a sink and a toilet from their cell wall, which led them into a hole that connected them to a loading dock. They climbed a fence, crossed I-10, changed into civilian attire, and disappeared into the cityscape. The break was not discovered for more than seven hours, giving the escapees a considerable lead time. Mocking jail staff further, they left behind graffiti declaring
“Too Easy LOL” and “We Innocent,”
emblematic of just how easy their break was.
The investigations showed that the break-out was not just done by the inmates but was aided from within and outside the center. Sterling Williams, a maintenance man, was arrested on May 20, 2025, for supposedly turning off the water supply for the purpose of removing plumbing fixtures. Williams said he was threatened that he would be “shanked” if he did not cooperate.
Cortnie Harris, identified as Leo Tate’s girlfriend, allegedly coordinated with him via recorded jail calls and rented a vehicle to transport escapees to various locations in New Orleans. Corvanntay Baptiste is accused of supporting Corey Boyd, who was recaptured on May 20, by providing food and clothing. All face charges of accessory after the fact, which carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison.
As of May 24, 2025, five out of ten have been recaptured, while five are still on the loose: Leo Tate, Jermaine Donald, Derrick Groves, Lenton Vanburen, and Antoine Massey. All five have criminal records for serious crimes, such as burglary, possession of drugs, as well as weapons charges. An example includes Leo Tate’s charges for burglary and possession of a fire arm as a felon. Being described as armed and dangerous has increased concern from the public.
The Orleans Justice Center has faced longstanding criticism for understaffing, inadequate surveillance, and deteriorating infrastructure. Sheriff Susan Hutson has acknowledged these issues, stating,
“It’s almost impossible for anybody to get out of this facility without help,”
suggesting internal complicity. The delayed discovery of the escape, coupled with a jail employee’s failure to report witnessed surveillance footage, underscores these vulnerabilities. Hutson is now seeking increased funding to address these systemic problems, but critics argue that years of underinvestment have left the facility prone to such breaches.
Over 200 law enforcement personnel, including the Louisiana State Police and FBI, are engaged in a full-scale manhunt for the remaining fugitives. Authorities have warned that assisting or concealing these escapees is a crime, with potential penalties of up to five years in prison.
The public is urged to report any information to 911, as the fugitives are considered a significant threat . FBI Special Agent Jonathan Trapp emphasized,
“We will arrest anyone found aiding or abetting them”.
Sheriff Hutson has suspended her re-election campaign to focus on restoring public trust and is working with state and local officials to secure resources for these changes .
