Officials confirm that a thorough investigation will seek to uncover any complicity from jail staff in the escape.
**Inside Job? New Orleans Jailbreak Indicates Possible Staff Involvement**
**Inside Job? New Orleans Jailbreak Indicates Possible Staff Involvement**
Authorities suspect an insider's assistance in a daring escape of ten inmates from New Orleans jail, some facing serious charges.
Ten inmates, including several with murder charges, have made a daring escape from a jail in New Orleans, raising suspicions of possible collusion with staff. The inmates reportedly fled during the night, as confirmed by authorities during a headcount at 08:30 local time on Friday. One escapee has already been captured. Sheriff Susan Huston expressed her firm belief, stating, “There's no way for anyone to get out of this facility without help,” during a news briefing.
Security footage obtained shows how the prisoners managed their escape, which included leaving messages behind that hinted at their audacity, one notably reading, “To Easy LoL.” Law enforcement has since identified one inmate as Kendall Myles, who was arrested in the well-known French Quarter area after facial recognition software detected him on surveillance. After a brief attempt to flee, he was found hiding underneath a parked car and is now facing additional charges for his escape.
Initially reported as 11 escapees, the number was corrected to ten later that day. Following the escape, Sheriff Hutson detailed how the inmates utilized tools to remove a sliding door from its tracks around midnight before breaking a toilet to create an exit point. Once through the makeshift hole, they scaled down a wall and circumvented a highway.
The sheriff’s office publicly released images contrasting the hole with precursory piping fixtures, noting “clean cuts” on the metal bars, indicating premeditated planning behind the escape. Scrawled notes were left behind, including playful messages that taunted law enforcement efforts to recapture them.
New Orleans police chief Anne Kirkpatrick deemed the situation “urgent and serious,” calling on the public to remain vigilant regarding any suspicious behavior. Victims related to the escapees have been informed of the situation. The escaped inmates are viewed as armed and dangerous, which has prompted the involvement of the FBI and US Marshals to assist in the search. As the investigation continues into both the escape and any potential internal cooperation, authorities stress the seriousness of the situation. The Orleans Parish Jail is situated approximately 3 km (2 miles) from New Orleans' bustling French Quarter.
