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3mo ago

Manhunt for New Orleans Jail Escapees Intensifies as Accomplice Arrests Grow

Five fugitives remain at large following a New Orleans jailbreak, with authorities leveraging technology, public tips, and increased rewards in their search.

Louisiana state police enter a house on North Galvez street as they pursue a fugitive that escaped from a New Orleans jail, Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Tra'von Johnson.
Connie Weeden, left, and Jermaine Donald.
A still from surveillance video released by the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office shows inmates escaping a New Orleans jail.

Overview

  • Ten inmates escaped from the Orleans Justice Center on May 16 by exploiting infrastructure vulnerabilities, with five still at large as of May 24.
  • A task force of over 200 officers is utilizing advanced surveillance tools, including Project NOLA's high-definition cameras with facial recognition, to track the fugitives.
  • Authorities have arrested six individuals, including a jail maintenance worker and five civilians, on charges of aiding the escapees through transportation, funds, and other support.
  • Rewards for information leading to the capture of each fugitive have been raised to $20,000, encouraging public cooperation through anonymous tip lines.
  • The escape has prompted a state-mandated audit of jail operations and led Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson to suspend her reelection campaign amidst growing criticism.