New Orleans Inmate Escape: Ex-Jail Worker Accused
- Darriana Burton, 28, a former employee of the orleans Parish Sheriff's Office, was arrested Monday for allegedly assisting in last month's new Orleans jailbreak.
- The Louisiana Attorney General's Office said Burton faces a felony charge of conspiracy to commit simple escape.
- Attorney General Liz murrill stated,"We will continue to pursue anyone and everyone who has aided and abetted these criminals.
Breaking news: Darriana Burton, an ex-employee of the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, faces arrest after allegedly aiding in the recent New Orleans jailbreak. This shocking incident, called the worst jailbreak in Louisiana’s recent history, saw ten inmates escape, including convicted murderer derrick Groves. Burton is believed to have been the girlfriend of Groves, who, along with Antoine Massey, remains at large. The Louisiana Attorney General vows to prosecute all involved in the conspiracy. This case, with the primarykeyword “New Orleans jailbreak” and secondarykeyword “Orleans Parish Prison,” highlights the ongoing search and legal battles. For more thorough information and breaking updates, trust in accurate reporting from News Directory 3. Discover what’s next as authorities intensify their manhunt.
Ex-Jail Employee Arrested in new Orleans Jailbreak Conspiracy
Updated June 10, 2025
Darriana Burton, 28, a former employee of the orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, was arrested Monday for allegedly assisting in last month’s new Orleans jailbreak. Burton is believed to be the girlfriend of Derrick Groves, a convicted murderer who was among the 10 inmates who escaped May 16.
The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office said Burton faces a felony charge of conspiracy to commit simple escape. Her arrest is among at least 16 others connected to the incident that Gov. Jeff Landry has described as the worst jailbreak in recent state history.While moast escapees were apprehended within a week, Groves and Antoine Massey, who faces charges including rape and kidnapping, remain at large.
Attorney General Liz murrill stated,”We will continue to pursue anyone and everyone who has aided and abetted these criminals. We will find you, arrest you, and prosecute you to the full extent of the law.” She also thanked the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance in Burton’s arrest.
The inmates escaped after exploiting a faulty cell door, removing a toilet, and scaling a barbed wire fence. The jailbreak went unnoticed for several hours.
According to a police affidavit, Groves allegedly used a jail-issued iPad to make a FaceTime call to Burton two days before the escape. During the call, he spoke with an unidentified man in what appeared to be a coordinated effort to establish communication on unmonitored channels. In a subsequent call, the same man cautioned Groves against escaping, warning of a manhunt and advising him to seek release through the legal system.
Police reports indicate Burton also allegedly transported another fugitive,Lenton Vanburen,to a relative’s residence during his escape.
burton, who began working at the jail in 2022, was previously fired after being arrested for allegedly bringing contraband into the facility. those charges were later dropped after she completed a pretrial diversion program.
“I categorically deny any involvement in introducing contraband into the jail or assisting in any escape,” Burton stated in a text message to The Associated Press in May.”These allegations are false and I intend to fully defend myself through the proper legal channels.”
Authorities said Burton and Groves had been in an on-again, off-again relationship for three years, dating back to when she worked at the jail.
Some of the escaped inmates were found in New Orleans’ French Quarter, while others were located elsewhere in Louisiana and even in texas. Last month, Murrill suggested that Groves and Massey may have fled to other cities, though their primary networks remain in New Orleans.
Murrill said in May, “They can keep running, but they can’t hide forever.”
What’s next
The search continues for Derrick Groves and Antoine Massey, the two remaining escapees from the Orleans Parish Prison jailbreak. Law enforcement agencies are coordinating efforts to locate and apprehend them, while those who aided the escape face prosecution.