More than two months have passed since Derrick Groves—the convicted double-murderer from New Orleans—pulled off one of the most audacious jailbreaks in Louisiana’s recent history. And as the dog days of summer settle in, authorities are no closer to capturing this wanted man.
Police in Alabama have been going door-to-door, questioning residents about Derrick Groves, who has remained on the run for 76 days despite ongoing search efforts.
In a social media post, one officer was seen asking about Derrick Groves, saying,
“Anybody seen him? Anybody seen him? There you go, come on, can I get a little closer? I can tell you there’s a truckload of cash for his arrest. It’s a truckload of cash, y’all! So that’d be… we’re talking in the five digits. Ooh, that’s a lot. Five digits. Reward out.”
On the night of May 16, 2025, Groves and nine other inmates executed a highly coordinated escape from the Orleans Parish Justice Center. Faulty locks, removed plumbing, and bars cut from behind a toilet — these hardened criminals exploited the facility’s vulnerabilities with inside help. After crawling through a hole in the wall, they scaled barbed-wire fences, sprinted across Interstate 10, and left behind graffiti taunting the jail with messages like “To Easy LoL” and “We Innocent.” Not one guard noticed—until the next routine roll call at 8:30 a.m., seven hours later.
Nine of the ten escapees are back behind bars. Antoine Massey was the second-to-last to surrender—or be captured—on June 27 in a New Orleans home. That leaves only Groves still on the run. A multi-agency coalition—the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Louisiana State Police, and NOLA PD—is collectively scouring the region. A $50K reward is on the table: $20K from Crimestoppers Greater New Orleans, $20K from the FBI, and $10K from the ATF.
At 28 years old, Groves is considered the most dangerous escapee. Back in October 2024, he was reconvicted—after multiple trials—for a Mardi Gras Day 2018 shooting at a family block party. Armed with an AK-style rifle, he allegedly killed Jamar Robinson (26) and Byron Jackson (21), injuring several others. Louisiana’s shift to requiring unanimous jury verdicts forced retrials until Groves was finally sentenced to life without parole.
Prosecutors paint Groves as manipulative and violent. “He’s got nothing to lose,” Assistant District Attorney Forrest Ladd told reporters. But those who’ve defended him say he’s intelligent and composed — a mix that makes him particularly difficult to track.
Despite an all-hands-on-deck effort from the FBI, U.S. Marshals, Louisiana State Police, and New Orleans Police, Groves has managed to stay hidden.
But the search has faced serious obstacles.
For one, there’s deep mistrust of law enforcement in parts of New Orleans — especially among Black communities still reeling from decades of police misconduct. That history hits especially close to home for Groves. In 1994, his grandmother, Kim Groves, was murdered after she reported a corrupt New Orleans officer for police brutality. That officer later ordered a hit on her.
Officials also believe Groves is being protected. His support network appears to be strong — and growing. At least 16 people have been arrested so far for helping the escapees.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill is now leading an investigation into how such a large-scale escape was possible. The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office is under intense scrutiny over the security lapses that allowed the break-in.
As for Groves, officials say the hunt is far from over.
“Groves is extremely dangerous,”
Law enforcement is urging the public not to approach him under any circumstances. Instead, anyone with credible information is asked to contact the authorities immediately.
