Weeden, a Slidell, Louisiana resident, faces a felony charge of accessory after the fact after authorities discovered she sent money to Donald via a cell phone app following his escape from the Orleans Parish Justice Center . Donald is one of five inmates still at large from the breakout of ten, turning this incident into a sprawling investigation that has exposed a web of civilian accomplices and glaring security flaws.
The dramatic escape unfolded on May 16, 2025, at the Orleans Parish Justice Center. Around 4:00 a.m., ten inmates executed a carefully orchestrated plan, prying a sliding door off its track while a lone guard was briefly absent, retrieving food. They then dismantled a toilet to create an exit, slipping through to an adjacent construction site, scaling a fence, and dashing across a freeway. The breach wasn’t detected until a routine headcount at 8:30 a.m., granting the escapees a four-hour lead time. This calculated operation, bolstered by external support, has raised serious questions about the facility’s security protocols.
Louisiana State Police apprehended Weeden after uncovering evidence of her aiding Donald’s flight. Investigations revealed she communicated with him by phone before and after the escape, hinting at possible foreknowledge, and sent him cash post-breakout via a digital app—actions that directly prolonged his evasion.
Now booked into St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center, Weeden faces up to five years in prison if convicted. Her arrest marks her as the third woman detained in this case, spotlighting how familial ties can complicate law enforcement efforts, with modern tech serving as both a tool for crime and a trail for investigators.
The investigation has netted twelve civilian arrests, unveiling a broad assistance network. Sterling Williams, a 33-year-old jail maintenance worker, was charged with shutting off the cell’s water supply and facilitating the toilet removal.
Two other women, Cortnie Harris and Corvanntay Baptiste, were arrested May 21 for providing transportation, while five family members of escapee Lenton Vanburen Jr.—including his father, Lenton Vanburen Sr.—were detained over the weekend for similar aid. Emmitt Weber, 28, rounds out the list, accused of assisting two fugitives post-escape. This coordinated support has significantly hindered recapture efforts.
Half of the escapees—Kendell Myles, Robert Moody, Dkenan Dennis, Gary Price, and Corey Boyd—have been recaptured, with Boyd nabbed on May 20. Yet five remain free: Jermaine Donald, Antoine Massey, Lenton Vanburen Jr., Derrick Groves, and Leo Tate Sr. These fugitives, deemed armed and dangerous, face grave charges—Donald with second-degree murder, Groves with multiple murder-related counts, and Vanburen Jr. with weapons offenses.
A $20,000 reward fuels a multi-agency manhunt involving the FBI, now in its second week, as authorities chase every lead to bring them back into custody.
Connie Weeden’s arrest underscores the thorny challenge of civilian networks in prison break cases, where loyalty can fuel crime and leave digital breadcrumbs for justice. Alongside twelve others, her actions highlight the need to hold accomplices accountable, as the Louisiana State Police assert:
“Those who assist or conceal these individuals will face consequences.”
