Authorities are intensifying their search for two inmates, Antoine Massey and Derick Groves, who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans on May 16. Following a news conference, the FBI and Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans increased the reward for information leading to their capture to $20,000 each, while the ATF is offering an additional $10,000 per inmate. Of the ten inmates who escaped, eight have been recaptured, leaving Massey and Groves still at large.
FBI Special Agent Jonathan Tapp emphasized that the authorities are dedicated to finding the fugitives, with Louisiana State Police Superintendent Colonel Robert P. Hodges asserting that efforts to close in on them are underway. He noted that the inmates appear to be receiving assistance as they navigate the city, indicating a tighter net is forming around them. Tips from the community played a crucial role in the capture of the escaped inmates, with one reward already disbursed, and more expected soon.
Additionally, authorities have arrested over a dozen individuals for allegedly aiding the escapees. Five individuals were charged with helping another escapee, Lenton Vanburen, who was ultimately apprehended after a citizen tip-off. A jail maintenance worker, Sterling Williams, was arrested for allegedly facilitating the escape by disabling water to a cell, allowing inmates to remove a toilet and flee. Williams claimed he acted out of concern for his safety after Massey threatened him. His lawyer denied the allegations of complicity, stating the maintenance issue was merely a plumbing problem. A photo from the jail showed graffiti in the escape tunnel, indicating the inmates’ mindset during their flight.
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