New Orleans Jail Escapees: 3 Caught, 2 Still at Large – NPR
- Three more of the 10 inmates who orchestrated a brazen jail escape in New Orleans earlier this month have been apprehended, authorities said Monday.
- One of the men was arrested in Baton Rouge, La., by local police.
- The inmates escaped May 16 after exploiting a faulty cell door, squeezing through a hole behind a toilet, and scaling a barbed-wire fence under the cover of darkness.
Authorities have recaptured three additional inmates involved in the daring New Orleans jail escape, narrowing the search for the remaining escapees. The brazen jailbreak, which occurred on May 16th, saw inmates exploit a faulty cell door and scale a fence, triggering a widespread search across state lines. The latest arrests took place in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Walker County, Texas, bringing the total number of recaptured individuals to eight. With two inmates still at large, law enforcement continues it’s intensive efforts. The escape exposed multiple security shortcomings at the New Orleans jail.For up-to-the-minute developments and breaking stories,check out News Directory 3. Discover what’s next as the search intensifies…
New Orleans Jail Escape: Three More Inmates Recaptured
Updated May 27, 2025
Three more of the 10 inmates who orchestrated a brazen jail escape in New Orleans earlier this month have been apprehended, authorities said Monday. The jail escape sparked a widespread search.
One of the men was arrested in Baton Rouge, La., by local police. The other two were caught in Walker County, Texas, according to a post by Louisiana State Police on X.
Two inmates remain at large, state police said.
The inmates escaped May 16 after exploiting a faulty cell door, squeezing through a hole behind a toilet, and scaling a barbed-wire fence under the cover of darkness. The New Orleans area has been the focus of the intense search.
Authorities discovered the escape during a morning headcount. A message reading “to Easy LoL,” with an arrow pointing to the escape route, was found scrawled on a wall.
City and state officials have cited multiple security failures at the jail.
Louisiana authorities identified the recaptured inmates as Lenton Vanburen, Leo Tate, and Jermaine Donald. Dkenan Dennis, Corey Boyd, Gary C.Price, Kendell Myles, and Robert Moody were previously taken into custody.
Many of the inmates were awaiting sentencing or trial on charges of violent crimes, including murder.
Following the escape, a jail maintenance worker was arrested for allegedly turning off the water to the toilet, which authorities believe aided the escape. The worker claimed he was threatened by an inmate.
Four other individuals have been arrested for allegedly assisting the inmates after they escaped.