Dramatic Prison Break: How Dozens of Inmates Escaped and Where the Manhunt Stands Now

Lead Nearly three months after a sensational prison break rattled Louisiana, the manhunt for Derrick Groves—the last of 10 fugitives who tunneled out of Orleans Parish Prison—has intensified, shining an unforgiving spotlight on America’s jail-security gaps and sparking nationwide interest in “prison break” updates. Escape recap • Date & method: At 12:23 a.m. on 16 May 2025, the group slipped through faulty cell-door locks, ripped a toilet from the wall and widened an existing plumbing hole large enough to squeeze through, scrawling “To Easy LoL” above the breach for guards to find hours later. • Getaway route: After breaching the wall, the inmates sprinted across a loading dock, scaled a razor-wire fence and disappeared across Interstate 10 before dawn. • Immediate fallout: A seven-hour head-count delay, three suspended jail employees and one arrested maintenance worker fueled public outrage and multiple internal probes. Where the fugitives stand now Nine escapees—including accused murderers Leo Tate, Jermaine Donald and Lenton Vanburen—were rounded up between 16 May and 27 June during sweeps in Louisiana and Texas. Groves (28), convicted of second-degree murder, remains at large despite: • U.S. Marshals elevating the reward to $25,000. • Digital billboards along I-10 and I-59 displaying his tattooed portrait. • Door-to-door canvassing in the Ninth Ward after a tip placed him there on 2 August. Why this prison break still trends 1. Viral visuals: Surveillance footage of the hole behind the toilet and graffiti taunt continues to rack up millions of views on TikTok and X. 2. Security questions: Experts call the jailbreak a “blueprint for copycats,” citing chronic understaffing, faulty locks and delayed water-line repairs. 3. True-crime binge culture: Podcasts dissecting the escape shot into Spotify’s U.S. Top 20 the week after the breakout. 4. Ongoing danger: Police warn Groves is “armed, desperate and likely receiving help,” keeping public anxiety—and search traffic—high. Timeline of key captures • 16 May: Three inmates—including Kendall Myles—caught hiding under a car in the French Quarter hours after escape. • 19 May: Gary Price tracked by heat-signature drone in marshland near Lake Pontchartrain. • 26 May: Trio nabbed in Walker County, Texas, after clerk recognized stolen plates. • 27 Jun: Four-time escapee Antoine Massey arrested at a Baton Rouge motel, ending 42-day run. Impact on Orleans Parish Prison Sheriff Susan Hutson has: • Requested $8 million for electronic cell locks and AI-driven camera analytics. • Ordered a nightly “toilet pull test” to detect compromised plumbing walls. • Brought in federal auditors to review staffing ratios. National perspective This is 2025’s third high-profile U.S. jailbreak, following: • A dual escape from Arkansas’ Cummins Unit in January. • Grant Hardin’s “fake deputy” disguise exit from East Tennessee in May. Public safety advice Authorities urge residents across Louisiana, Mississippi and East Texas to: • Report any sightings of Groves (6'1", “Marley” neck tattoo) to 1-877-WANTED-2. • Avoid direct confrontation—he may seek vehicles, clothing or cash. • Check vacant properties, sheds and hunting camps for forced entry. What’s next With hurricane season underway, officials worry flood-evacuation crowds could mask Groves’ movements. The U.S. Marshals Service plans to deploy additional K-9 units and thermal drones during nighttime sweeps, while legislators schedule an August hearing on minimum staffing standards for parish jails. Bottom line Search interest in “prison break,” “New Orleans jailbreak” and “Derrick Groves manhunt” remains high because the story blends action-movie drama with real-world stakes. Until the final fugitive is in custody—and systemic jail flaws are fixed—expect the prison-break conversation to dominate news feeds and search engine results alike.