In a major security breach that has alarmed law enforcement officials and community members alike, ten inmates—several of whom face charges of murder and violent crimes—escaped from the Orleans Justice Center early Friday morning.
The breakout went undetected for more than seven hours, raising serious questions about surveillance, staff accountability, and facility management.
The inmates escaped around 1 a.m. by exploiting a breach behind a toilet in a shared cell. According to authorities, they crawled through a maintenance corridor and exited via a loading dock before scaling a perimeter fence.
A taunting message scrawled in graffiti—“Too Easy LOL”—was discovered above the hole in the wall, suggesting premeditation and mocking the jail’s security measures.
The escape was not discovered until the 8:30 a.m. headcount. By that time, the inmates had been missing for hours, triggering a massive manhunt involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
Officials confirmed that one of the escapees, 23-year-old Kendell Myles, was captured in the French Quarter shortly before noon after a brief foot chase. The remaining nine are still at large and are considered armed and dangerous.
The escapees range in age from 19 to 42 and face charges including second-degree murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, and aggravated assault.
Officials have expressed concern that such high-risk detainees were able to coordinate and execute an escape with apparent ease.
Sheriff Susan Hutson, who oversees the facility, has launched an internal investigation to determine whether staff may have aided the escape. “We’re looking at all possibilities, including the failure of procedures and potential complicity,” she said during a press conference.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill echoed those concerns, calling the incident “unacceptable” and demanding a full investigation.
The Orleans Justice Center, a sprawling 433,000-square-foot facility with over 1,400 beds, has been under federal oversight since 2016, following a consent decree that sought to address systemic civil rights violations and poor conditions.
This latest incident has intensified scrutiny over its leadership and ongoing reform efforts.
Adding to the controversy was the delay in notifying the public and other law enforcement agencies. New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said her department wasn’t informed of the escape until more than nine hours after it happened, calling the communication breakdown “deeply troubling.”
Governor Jeff Landry weighed in on social media, writing, “To the other 10: YOU ARE NEXT!”—a blunt signal of the urgency driving the search.
As authorities continue their search, the escape has cast a harsh spotlight on longstanding vulnerabilities in the jail system, renewing calls for immediate and sweeping reform.
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