Nine inmates still at large after jailbreak in New Orleans, officials suspect inside help

Nine inmates remain on the run after a dramatic escape from the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans early Friday, with officials warning the public to stay alert and consider the fugitives “armed and dangerous.”

Ten adult men escaped just after midnight, but one — Kendell Myles, who is facing attempted murder charges — was later captured hiding under a car in a hotel garage in the city’s French Quarter, authorities said.

Initial reports suggested 11 had escaped, but one inmate had actually been moved to a different cell. Among those still at large are four men charged with second-degree murder: Corey Boyd, Lenton Vanburen, Jermaine Donald, and Derrick Groves.

Sheriff Susan Hutson said the inmates broke a lock, slipped through a wall behind a toilet, and used a loading door to exit the building. From there, they scaled the perimeter wall and reached nearby railroad tracks and the interstate.

Hutson admitted officials believe the escape was aided from within. “It’s almost impossible for anyone to get out without help from the inside,” she said, adding that the jail desperately needs funding for critical repairs — including $5.2 million just for replacing locks.

At the time of the escape, four supervisors and 36 staff were on duty. The missing inmates weren’t discovered until the morning headcount at 8 a.m., and local police were only notified at 10:30 a.m.

A full-scale search is underway involving local, state, and federal agencies. New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said potential victims tied to the inmates have already been relocated for safety and urged others in danger to do the same.

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