New Orleans Jailbreak: Inmates Suspected of Inside Help

A dramatic escape from Orleans Parish Jail in New Orleans has authorities on high alert, with indications that staff may have aided the ten inmates in their flight. One inmate has already been recaptured, while a manhunt for the remaining escapees is underway.

Ten inmates, including several charged with murder, have managed to escape from the Orleans Parish Jail in New Orleans, prompting investigators to suspect that the jailbreak may have been facilitated by at least one member of the facility's staff. The escape took place around midnight and was discovered during a morning headcount at 08:30 local time (13:30 GMT) on Friday, leading to significant concern from law enforcement.

According to Sheriff Susan Huston, "There's no way for anyone to get out of this facility without help", indicating the likelihood that external assistance played a role in the breach. The sheriff's office has released images to illustrate how the inmates orchestrated their escape, which were accompanied by cheeky messages allegedly written by the fleeing inmates.

As of now, only one of the ten escapees has been recaptured. The individual was identified as Kendall Myles, who was apprehended in the French Quarter after he attempted to evade capture on foot and was later found hiding under a car in a parking garage. Myles is currently facing a new charge of Simple Escape.

Initial reports had suggested that eleven inmates had escaped, but this figure was corrected to ten by the sheriff’s office. The intricate escape plan involved inmates dismantling the sliding door of their jail cell around 12:23 AM, before breaking a toilet from the wall and creating a gap in the piping system, through which they successfully fled.

The Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office has shared images of the escape route, revealing a hole in the wall and various messages left behind by the inmates, including the cryptic phrase "To Easy LoL" along with other juvenile drawings. These observations raised further questions about the involvement of others in the jailbreak.

In response to the situation, New Orleans police chief Anne Kirkpatrick categorized the escape as an "urgent and serious situation," urging citizens to report any suspicious behavior. Many of the escapees are armed and remain a danger to the public, with ongoing law enforcement efforts from local police, the FBI, and U.S. Marshals to locate them. Victims related to some of the escapees have been notified of the situation, and authorities warn that anyone who assisted in the escape could face legal charges. The Orleans Parish Jail is situated approximately 3 kilometers (2 miles) from New Orleans' renowned French Quarter.