Manhunt for escaped inmates in New Orleans enters fourth day; 6 still on the run

By Erin Lowrey

Source: WDSU

May 19, 2025

The search for six escaped inmates in New Orleans has entered its fourth day after a total of 10 inmates escaped from the Orleans Parish Jail early Friday.

Four of the 10 have been captured.

The Orleans Parish Justice Center said Friday it has suspended three employees after the 10 inmates escaped. It is unclear what roles the employees played in the escape; however, Sheriff Susan Hutson did say it was believed the escaped inmates received help from someone inside the jail.

According to the sheriff’s office, jail officials discovered the inmates were missing during a routine head count at 8:30 a.m.

Sources tell WDSU that the inmates dug a hole inside the jail, possibly under a toilet, to escape.

Security expert Mike Cahn said this type of escape would have been calculated and taken some time to execute.

Sheriff Susan Hutson said 10 inmates escaped the jail. Three have been captured and the other seven are being sought at this time.

According to Sheriff Susan Hutson, the escape by the inmates would have been “impossible without help,” and she is launching an investigation into the escape.

According to Huston, around 12:23 a.m., the inmates began tampering with a locked cell and were able to break in. That cell was where the hole was cut behind a toilet.

According to Hutson, a correctional monitoring technician in the control module was present. This person is considered a civilian employee.

The inmates were able to escape the jail through a door at 1:01 a.m.

Video surveillance confirms that they exited through a door in the docks where supplies are brought into the jail, according to Huston.

Hutson believes those who escaped received help from individuals inside the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office. Hutson said the inmates would have needed a tool that they couldn’t access to dig the hole in the wall of the cell.

The United States Marshals, Louisiana State Police, and Probation and Parole were notified by 9:30 a.m., and the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) was alerted immediately afterward through the Fusion Center, according to Hutson.

The person who was in the center, monitoring the pod that the inmates escaped from, was a civilian employee. The employee stepped away to get food when the inmates broke into the cell they escaped from, according to the sheriff’s office.

The FBI joined the search for the inmates at 4:30 p.m. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrests of the inmates.

Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 1-800-Call-FBI or send digital tips to fbi.gov/neworleansfugitives.

The ATF is also offering a $5,000 reward in addition to the $5,000 reward from Crime Stoppers.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has called on Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill to conduct an audit of the jail amid the escape.

In a news conference on Sunday, Landry ordered an audit of the Orleans Correctional Facility by the Department of Corrections.

The audit would remove all DOC inmates and check the basic jail guidelines.

Landry also issued an executive order that would instruct the state inspector general to get inventory from the sheriff on all pretrial detainees and those awaiting sentences.

Hutson issued the following statement regarding the audit:

“First and foremost, we remain committed to the safety of our residents, our staff, and the integrity of our correctional facility. We have launched an active internal investigation and are fully committed to identifying and addressing the root causes of this breach, not only to restore public trust but to ensure accountability for our community and stakeholders. OPSO also continues to cooperate fully with the independent investigation being conducted by the Louisiana Attorney General.

“We appreciate the support of our fellow law enforcement and judicial system partners. Moments like this require coordination, communication, and shared responsibility across agencies. With that, I acknowledge and respect Governor Jeff Landry’s decision to initiate a comprehensive audit following the recent escape of ten inmates.

“In addition to the immediate actions already taken under my leadership, I view the Governor’s audit as another necessary step toward transparency. But it is equally critical that we recognize the longstanding, systemic challenges that have impacted this facility for years, challenges I have been working to address since the beginning of my tenure.

“The Bureau of Governmental Research has previously underscored the importance of a more collaborative governance structure between the City of New Orleans and the Sheriff’s Office to ensure effective operations and lasting reform. I remain committed to working with all stakeholders to address these issues and act on any findings or recommendations from the Governor’s audit process.”

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