Final Escapee of New Orleans Jail Captured in Atlanta After Five-Month Manhunt

Tue Oct 21 2025 10:48:04 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Derrick Groves, the last of ten inmates who escaped from a Louisiana jail, was apprehended by police in Atlanta following a brief standoff after months of evading capture.

After five months on the run, Derrick Groves, the final inmate who escaped from the Orleans Parish Justice Center in New Orleans, was captured by police in Atlanta. Groves' escape had involved a daring break that included ripping a toilet off its wall. He now faces additional charges related to his escape, adding to his existing life sentence for second-degree murder.

Five months after ten inmates broke out of a Louisiana jail, the last escapee has been captured, Louisiana State Police confirmed on Wednesday.

The escaped inmate, 28-year-old Derrick Groves, was taken into custody in Atlanta, Georgia, following a brief stand-off, police reported.

Authorities used gas canisters to flush Groves out from a hiding spot in a house, ultimately finding him in a crawl space, according to CBS News, BBC's US partner.

Groves was part of a group of inmates who escaped from the Orleans Parish Justice Center in May by removing a toilet from the wall and breaking bars around the resulting hole, allowing them to exit the facility.

The inmates had scrawled messages such as To Easy LoL above the hole they made, indicating a brazen confidence about their escape. Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson attributed their successful break to a combination of staff shortages and outdated building designs.

While some of the escapees were quickly recaptured, Groves lived on the run for five months before a tip-off led authorities to track him down in Atlanta. He had been convicted of second-degree murder after a shooting incident during a Mardi Gras celebration, resulting in two fatalities.

Following his arrest, Groves faces more charges linked to his escape, with Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill emphasizing that he would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Groves will be extradited back to Louisiana for further legal proceedings.