7 men at large after escape from New Orleans jail including 4 charged with murder
Ten inmates escaped from a jail in New Orleans on Friday, sparking a manhunt that is still ongoing. Authorities have warned that the escapees should be considered armed and dangerous. Three of the escapees have been captured, but eight remain at large.
Kendell Myles, one of the escapees, was apprehended in the French Quarter of New Orleans. He was found hiding beneath a car in a hotel garage. Myles is facing charges of attempted second-degree murder. Another inmate, Robert Moody, was captured late Friday evening, but details of his capture have not been released. Dkenan Dennis was also captured near Chef Menteur Highway.
The escape was discovered during a routine headcount at the Orleans Justice Center. The inmates managed to escape by tampering with a locked cell door and exiting through a wall behind a toilet. They then made their way off the property through a loading dock door and scaled the perimeter wall using blankets to protect themselves from the barbed wire. The inmates were seen crossing Interstate 10, and their orange jail uniforms were found abandoned in a nearby neighborhood.
Authorities suspect that the inmates received help from inside the jail, as it would have been nearly impossible for them to escape without assistance. Three employees have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into the breach. The United States Marshals, Louisiana State Police, and Probation and Parole have been notified and are assisting in the search.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for tips leading to the arrest of any of the escaped inmates. Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans is also offering a $2,000 reward for each apprehension. The sheriff’s office is urging the public to remain vigilant and report any sightings of the escapees.
The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office has emphasized the need for repairs to the jail and increased staffing. Sheriff Susan Hutson stated that they need $5.2 million to pay for lock repairs alone. The incident has raised concerns about the security protocols and staffing levels at the jail.
The escape has prompted a full-scale search operation involving local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The public has been asked to stay alert and report any suspicious activity. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick has urged potential victims of the inmates to seek safety, as it is believed that the inmates may have changed out of their jail clothes.
The incident is under investigation, and those found to have helped the inmates escape will be held accountable. Sheriff Hutson has vowed to determine how the escape occurred and ensure that measures are put in place to prevent similar incidents in the future. The escape has raised questions about the timing of the breach and the possibility of coordination from within the jail.
