Eight of Ten Orleans Justice Center Escapees Recaptured; Two Remain at Large
By The Bayou Insider Staff
Nearly two weeks after one of the most embarrassing jail escapes in recent Louisiana history, eight of the ten inmates who broke out of the Orleans Justice Center have been recaptured, according to law enforcement officials.
The original escape occurred in the early morning hours of May 16, when ten inmates exploited a faulty cell door and accessed a gap behind a toilet, slipping undetected through a maintenance corridor and over a barbed-wire fence. Their absence wasn’t discovered until an 8:30 a.m. headcount—more than eight hours after they were gone.
This week, officials confirmed the capture of three more escapees, bringing the total apprehended to eight. The arrests took place across two states.
Lenton Vanburen Jr., 26, was arrested in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Leo Tate, 31, and Jermaine Donald, 42, were located in Walker County, Texas. A coordinated operation involving local deputies and U.S. Marshals led to their capture after a brief pursuit.
Only two inmates remain at large: Derrick Groves, 27, convicted of second-degree murder, and Antoine Massey, 32, with a history of escape attempts dating back to 2007. Massey is charged with domestic abuse and auto theft, and is considered armed and dangerous.
The jailbreak has drawn national scrutiny—not only for the ease of the escape but for the conditions that allowed it. Surveillance footage and inspection reports revealed long-standing infrastructure issues, including malfunctioning locks and unsupervised access points. The graffiti left behind in the escape tunnel—crudely taunting guards with the words “To Easy LOL”—only added insult to injury.
Adding to the scandal, a facility maintenance worker, Sterling Williams, was arrested and charged with assisting the inmates. According to arrest records, he admitted to shutting off the water to the toilet, enabling the wall breach. Williams has since claimed he was threatened by an inmate to comply.
The Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office is now facing mounting pressure from residents, lawmakers, and civil rights groups demanding accountability, transparency, and major reform to jail operations. Sheriff Susan Hutson has promised a full internal investigation.
In the meantime, authorities continue to search for Groves and Massey, offering $20,000 rewards for information leading to the capture of each fugitive.
Help Keep Louisiana Safe
If you have any information about the whereabouts of Derrick Groves or Antoine Massey, do not approach them. Instead, contact Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111 or submit an anonymous tip online at crimestoppersgno.org.
Your tip could help bring dangerous fugitives back into custody and protect communities across Louisiana.
Stay informed. Stay alert. Let’s hold our public institutions accountable—and each other safe.
The Bayou Insider will continue monitoring developments in this case as new information becomes available.
