Authorities in New Orleans investigate a potential inside job after ten inmates escaped from jail, with one recaptured so far. A manhunt for the remaining escapees is ongoing, raising safety concerns.**
Inside Job? Investigation Launched After New Orleans Jail Break**
Inside Job? Investigation Launched After New Orleans Jail Break**
Ten inmates, including murder suspects, break out of Orleans Parish Jail, sparking concerns of possible staff involvement.**
Ten prisoners from the Orleans Parish Jail in New Orleans made a dramatic escape, prompting investigators to consider that the incident may have been orchestrated with inside help. The jailbreak occurred around midnight, and by the time the first headcount was conducted at 08:30 local time on Friday, the inmates were missing. Sheriff Susan Hutson confirmed that it would have been nearly impossible for the inmates to flee without some form of assistance from the jail's staff.
Among the escapees, several are facing serious charges, including murder, with authorities deeming them "armed and dangerous". In footage from security cameras, one escapee was identified through facial recognition technology, leading to the arrest of a man named Kendall Myles, who was found hiding under a car in a parking garage in the French Quarter. He is now facing additional charges related to his escape.
Initial reports from the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office indicated that 11 prisoners had fled, but this was later corrected to ten. The sheriff outlined how the inmates managed to break free: they forcibly removed the sliding door of their cell and subsequently tore a toilet from the wall, enabling them to create an exit through a plumbing hole. The authorities released chilling images of the escape route, which included scrawled messages from the inmates that taunted law enforcement, one reading "To Easy LoL."
New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick described the situation as grave and urged the public to stay vigilant and report any sightings of the escapees. She also mentioned that victims connected to some of these escapees had been notified. The FBI and U.S. Marshals have joined local law enforcement in the ongoing manhunt. The Orleans Parish Jail, located in proximity to downtown New Orleans, exacerbates public safety concerns as the search continues for the nine fugitives.
