Derrick Groves Appears in Atlanta Court, Tells Judge He Wants to “Return Where I’m From”
ATLANTA, Ga. — Derrick Groves, the escaped New Orleans inmate captured in southwest Atlanta this week, appeared in Fulton County Magistrate Court on Thursday morning and told the judge he wanted to “return where I’m from.” Groves, 30, formally waived extradition, clearing the way for his transfer back to Louisiana to face additional charges connected to his May jailbreak.
Extradition Process Underway
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill confirmed Thursday that discussions are already in motion to coordinate Groves’ return to the Orleans Parish Justice Center, where he had escaped five months earlier. “Today, Derrick Groves waived extradition at his magistrate court hearing in Atlanta. There are ongoing discussions about the next steps to return him back to Louisiana,” Murrill said in a statement. “Those discussions are already underway and require Louisiana State Police to coordinate with law enforcement in Georgia.”
Authorities have not yet announced the extradition date. Once back in Louisiana, Groves will likely be transferred to Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, where other escapees are being held.
Captured After Standoff in Atlanta
Groves was arrested Wednesday afternoon after a tip to CrimeStoppers led investigators to a home near Campbellton Road and Honeysuckle Lane in southwest Atlanta. The U.S. Marshals Service, working alongside Atlanta Police, surrounded the property and deployed canisters before locating Groves hiding in a crawl space.
Officials said the crawl space had been constructed to conceal Groves, and Murrill confirmed that her office will pursue charges against anyone who aided his escape or concealment.
Background: New Orleans Jailbreak
Groves was the last remaining fugitive of ten inmates who escaped from the Orleans Parish jail on May 16. The group reportedly pried open a faulty door, removed a toilet from the wall, and crawled through a hole to freedom. Graffiti left behind at the scene read “Too easy LOL.”
The other nine escapees — including Kendell Myles, Robert Moody, Gary Price, and Corey Boyd — were all recaptured within weeks. Groves managed to evade capture for nearly five months, making him one of Louisiana’s most sought fugitives.
Criminal Background and Family Ties
Groves was serving time for three counts of attempted second-degree murder at the time of his escape. Sources confirm he is the grandson of Kim Groves, a New Orleans mother whose 1994 murder — ordered by corrupt NOPD officer Len Davis — remains one of the city’s most infamous police corruption cases.
Groves’ girlfriend, Darriana Burton, is currently jailed for allegedly helping him escape. Investigators say she communicated with him using an iPad through the SmartCom inmate messaging system, which the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office introduced last year to improve inmate welfare.
Burton previously worked for the Sheriff’s Office but was fired in 2023 after being accused of bringing contraband into the jail. Her charges were later dropped after she completed a diversion program, though she now faces felony conspiracy charges related to Groves’ breakout.
The Saluda Standard-Sentinel encourages readers to share their views on law enforcement coordination and inmate tracking reforms across the South. Visit SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com for continuing coverage of this developing case.
