The breakout, which occurred around 12:22 a.m., has triggered a massive manhunt and raised concerns over security lapses at the Orleans Parish jail

By Afolabi Ayodele

Ten inmates escaped from a New Orleans correctional facility in the early hours of Friday by exploiting a hidden hole behind a toilet — a security breach that went undetected for over eight hours.

The breakout, which occurred around 12:22 a.m., has triggered a massive manhunt and raised concerns over security lapses at the Orleans Parish jail.

Authorities revealed that only two of the ten escapees have so far been recaptured, with eight, including four men facing second-degree murder charges, still at large.

The fugitives — Corey Boyd, Lenton Vanburen, Jermaine Donald, and Derrick Groves among them — manipulated a cell door mechanism to access an adjacent cell, slipped through a concealed hole in the wall, and navigated their way out through a loading dock.

They then scaled a barbed-wire fence using makeshift climbing gear made from blankets and vanished into the darkness near nearby railway tracks and highways.

Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson disclosed that jail staff were unaware of the escape until the 8:30 a.m. headcount.

The New Orleans Police Department was only informed by 10:30 a.m., prompting questions about oversight and possible internal complicity.

Three of the escapees — Kendell Myles, Robert Moody, and Dkenan Dennis — have since been captured. Myles, who was awaiting trial for attempted second-degree murder, was found hiding under a vehicle at a hotel parking garage.

Dennis was caught near Chef Menteur Highway, while details of Moody’s arrest remain undisclosed.

An internal investigation is ongoing to determine whether negligence or inside assistance played a role in the escape.

Meanwhile, local and federal authorities have joined forces in the hunt for the remaining fugitives, urging the public to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

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