Inside Job? New Orleans Jail Break Raises Serious Security Concerns

Ten inmates managed to escape from a New Orleans jail, potentially with insider assistance, prompting a manhunt and raising significant security concerns within the facility.

Ten prisoners, including several facing murder charges, have successfully escaped from the Orleans Parish Jail in New Orleans, leading authorities to suspect that they may have received assistance from staff members within the facility. The inmates' escape occurred around midnight, with their absence discovered during a headcount at approximately 8:30 AM local time on Friday. As of now, one of the escapees has been apprehended.

Sheriff Susan Hutson provided an update during a press conference, noting, "There's no way for anyone to get out of this facility without help." The Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office shared images documenting how the escape happened, including messages left by the inmates that expressed a bold sense of defiance, one reading, "To Easy LoL."

According to law enforcement, one inmate — identified as Kendall Myles — was captured in New Orleans' French Quarter. Myles was identified through facial recognition technology after being filmed on surveillance cameras. In a dramatic pursuit, he attempted to flee on foot but was ultimately found hiding beneath a car in a parking garage, where he was taken back to the jail and charged with a new offense of Simple Escape.

Initially, the police stated that 11 inmates had escaped from the facility, but later corrected the count to 10. Sheriff Hutson detailed that the inmates managed to forcefully remove the sliding door of their jail cell at 12:23 AM and exited the building around half an hour later. They accomplished this by ripping a toilet from the wall, breaking through metal bars around a previously made hole in the wall meant for piping, and finally climbing down a wall to escape onto a highway.

The sheriff’s office also released images of the damage, which showed signs of careful planning, with “clean cuts” on the metal bars further facilitating the escape. Some of the scrawled messages left on the wall by the escapees included playful drawings like a smiley face and comments urging officers to catch them.

New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick termed the prisoner escape an “urgent and serious situation,” advising the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity. The victims of the escapees have also been alerted about the incident, highlighting the severity of the charges many of these inmates face.

Authorities, including the FBI and US Marshals, have joined local enforcement in the ongoing manhunt for the remaining escapees. Officials speculate that due to the circumstances surrounding the breakout, it is likely the inmates are no longer wearing prison uniforms and warned that anyone who aided them in their escape will face legal consequences. The Orleans Parish Jail is strategically located just about 2 miles from the city’s renowned French Quarter, heightening concerns regarding public safety during this manhunt.