New Orleans Prison Escape: Everything You Need to Know
On May 16, 2025, the city of New Orleans was rocked by one of the most shocking jailbreaks in recent history. Ten inmates escaped from the Orleans Justice Center, a facility meant to keep dangerous criminals behind bars. A month later, two of those inmates, Derrick Groves and Antoine Massey, remain on the run, sparking a massive manhunt that has gripped the city and beyond. The New Orleans police chief is now offering legal support to Groves and Massey if they turn themselves in, a move that has raised eyebrows and fueled debates. This is the story of a bold escape, a troubled jail, and a community searching for answers. Let’s dive into the details with Phacts, where we bring you the truth in clear, simple language.
How It All Began: The Night of the Escape
In the early hours of May 16, 2025, ten inmates at the Orleans Justice Center pulled off a daring escape that sounds like something out of a Hollywood movie. The group, housed in a section of the jail undergoing renovations, took advantage of a faulty cell door. They yanked it open, removed a toilet from the wall, and crawled through a small hole they created. From there, they scaled a barbed wire fence and vanished into the night.
What makes this breakout even more surprising is that it went unnoticed for hours. Guards didn’t realize the inmates were gone until much later, giving the escapees a head start. The jail’s security failures, including defective locks and staffing issues, quickly became a focal point of public outrage. This wasn’t just a clever plan by the inmates—it was a wake-up call about the state of the Orleans Parish jail.
Who Are the Escapees?
The ten inmates who broke out were facing serious charges, ranging from murder to domestic abuse. While eight have been recaptured, two remain at large: Derrick Groves, 27, and Antoine Massey, 32. Understanding who these men are helps explain why their escape has caused such a stir.
Derrick Groves: A Convicted Murderer
Derrick Groves was convicted in 2024 of two counts of second-degree murder for a deadly shooting during Mardi Gras in 2018. He faces a life sentence without parole, making his escape a desperate bid to avoid spending his life behind bars. Groves also pleaded guilty to battery of a correctional officer, showing a history of violent behavior. His aunt, Jasmine Groves, has publicly urged him to surrender, saying she fears for his safety. Meanwhile, authorities have arrested Groves’ girlfriend, Darriana Burton, a former jail employee, for allegedly helping him plan the escape.
Antoine Massey: The Serial Escape Artist
Antoine Massey is no stranger to breaking out of custody. Before this jailbreak, he had escaped lockup multiple times, earning him the nickname “escape artist.” Massey was in jail on charges of domestic abuse, strangulation, and theft of a motor vehicle. Unlike Groves, Massey’s charges don’t carry a life sentence, which has led some to believe he might be more open to surrendering. His grandfather, Lee Taylor, has begged him to turn himself in, citing Massey’s role as a father to a 17-year-old daughter and a 4-year-old son. Massey’s bold social media posts since the escape have only added fuel to the manhunt.
The Manhunt: A Month-Long Search
As of June 17, 2025, the manhunt for Groves and Massey has entered its fourth week. Eight of the ten escapees were caught within days, some in New Orleans’ French Quarter and others as far away as Texas. But Groves and Massey have proven harder to track down. Authorities believe at least one of them may still be in the New Orleans area, though they could also be in other cities.
The search has involved local police, the FBI, U.S. Marshals, and even the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Rewards for tips leading to their capture have climbed to $50,000 per fugitive, totaling $100,000. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has vowed to bring them back to prison, saying, “They can’t hide forever.”
Social Media Twists: Massey’s Bold Move
One of the most surprising parts of this story is Antoine Massey’s activity on social media. Since the escape, he has allegedly posted videos and photos on Instagram, proclaiming his innocence and even asking for help from rappers and President Donald Trump. In one video, Massey claimed he wasn’t the mastermind behind the breakout. These posts have given investigators clues, leading to a raid on a New Orleans home where they believe Massey recorded the videos. While the posts haven’t led to his capture yet, they’ve kept the public talking and raised questions about how a fugitive can stay so visible online.
The Jail’s Troubles: A Broken System?
The New Orleans prison escape has shone a harsh light on the Orleans Justice Center. The jail, which opened in 2015, has faced criticism for years over poor conditions, understaffing, and security failures. The defective locks that allowed the escape were part of a unit undergoing renovations, but why were high-risk inmates housed there in the first place? Sheriff Susan Hutson has taken responsibility for the breakout and suspended her re-election campaign to focus on fixing the jail.
Governor Jeff Landry called this the worst jailbreak in recent state history and ordered the removal of all state inmates from the facility. He also launched an independent investigation to uncover what went wrong. From faulty infrastructure to staffing shortages, the escape has exposed deep flaws in New Orleans’ jail system, leaving residents wondering if their city is safe.
A Surprising Offer: Legal Support for Surrender
In a move that has surprised many, New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick is offering legal support to Derrick Groves and Antoine Massey if they turn themselves in. During a press conference with the ATF, Kirkpatrick said, “We have arranged legal representation for both men should they decide to surrender.” She promised public defenders would be ready the moment they give themselves up, hoping to make them feel safe enough to come forward.
Kirkpatrick also appealed to the fugitives’ friends and family, pointing out the $100,000 in reward money as “life-changing” cash for anyone who provides information. Pastor Robert Brown of Ray Avenue Baptist Church has even offered to help facilitate Massey’s surrender, showing how the community is stepping up to resolve this crisis peacefully.
However, not everyone is convinced the legal support offer will work smoothly. Some legal experts note that public defenders are appointed by the court after an arrest, not by the police, so the process might not be as quick as Kirkpatrick suggests. Still, the offer is seen as a way to encourage Groves and Massey to surrender without violence.
The Arrest of Accomplices: Who Helped Them?
The manhunt hasn’t just focused on the escapees. Authorities have arrested several people accused of helping the inmates before or after the breakout. Darriana Burton, Groves’ girlfriend and a former Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office employee, was arrested on June 9, 2025, for conspiracy to commit simple escape. She allegedly exchanged texts and video calls with Groves to plan the jailbreak and even drove another escapee, Lenton Vanburen, to a safe house after the escape.
Massey’s sister, Daishanae Massey, is among 14 others arrested for aiding the escapees. A jail plumber and other insiders are also under scrutiny, suggesting the breakout was a coordinated effort with help from both inside and outside the jail. These arrests show how determined authorities are to hold everyone accountable.
The Community’s Reaction: Fear and Hope
The New Orleans prison escape has left the city on edge. Residents are worried about two dangerous fugitives still at large, especially Groves, who faces life in prison for murder. At the same time, there’s hope that the legal support offer and community efforts will lead to a peaceful resolution. Families of the escapees, like Massey’s grandfather and Groves’ aunt, have spoken out, urging their loved ones to surrender for their own safety and for the sake of their families.
Local leaders are also grappling with the bigger issue: how to fix the jail and restore public trust. The escape has sparked debates about criminal justice, jail conditions, and public safety in New Orleans, a city already facing challenges with crime and infrastructure.
What Happens Next?
As the manhunt continues, all eyes are on Derrick Groves and Antoine Massey. Will they take the police chief’s offer of legal support and turn themselves in? Or will they keep running, risking a dangerous confrontation with law enforcement? The $100,000 reward is a strong incentive for tips, and with Massey’s social media activity, it’s possible investigators are closing in.
Meanwhile, the Orleans Justice Center faces a long road to reform. The investigation into the escape will likely lead to changes in staffing, security, and infrastructure, but rebuilding trust with the community will take even longer. For now, New Orleans waits, hoping for the capture of the last two escapees and answers about how this happened.
Why This Matters to You
The New Orleans prison escape isn’t just a local story—it’s a reminder of how important it is to have a justice system that works. From jail security to public safety, this case touches on issues that affect communities everywhere. At Phacts, we’re committed to bringing you stories like this in a way that’s clear, engaging, and honest. We dig deep to give you the full picture, so you can stay informed and understand the world around you.
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