Last of 10 New Orleans Jail Escapees Captured in Georgia After Months on the Run

ATLANTA, Ga. — The final fugitive from a dramatic New Orleans jail break earlier this year has been captured in Georgia after months on the run. Authorities confirmed that Derrick Groves, one of ten inmates who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center in May, was taken into custody Wednesday following a tense standoff with police in southwest Atlanta.

Four-Month Manhunt Comes to an End

The Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office said Groves, who was being held on charges of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder, was located after investigators received a tip through CrimeStoppers.
Officers with the U.S. Marshals Service and Atlanta Police Department surrounded a residence where Groves had been hiding. After a brief standoff, he was arrested without injury and is now awaiting extradition to Louisiana.

How the Escape Happened

Groves’ escape, along with nine other inmates, occurred on May 16 when the group allegedly yanked open a faulty cell door, removed a toilet from the wall, and crawled through a hole to flee the facility.
Graffiti scrawled on the wall above the escape hole read “Too easy LOL” and “We innocent,” according to photos released by the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The incident exposed major security failures at the Orleans Justice Center and led to a wide-ranging investigation involving both local and federal agencies.

The Capture Timeline

Authorities quickly recaptured most of the escapees within days:

• Kendell Myles, Robert Moody, and Dkenan Dennis were caught within hours of the breakout.
• Gary Price was arrested on May 19, and Corey Boyd was found the next day.
• On May 26, Jermaine Donald and Leo Tate were arrested in Texas, and Lenton Vanburen was captured in Baton Rouge.
• Antoine Massey, another escapee, was arrested in New Orleans in June.

Groves, the last remaining fugitive, managed to evade capture for nearly five months.

Investigation and Accomplices

The manhunt led to the arrests of over a dozen people accused of helping the inmates, including Groves’ girlfriend, Darriana Burton. According to court documents, Burton exchanged text messages and video calls with Groves prior to the escape and was aware of his plans.
Investigators said Groves deliberately used vague language during monitored calls to avoid detection, later arranging a follow-up conversation that would not be recorded.

Authorities also charged Sterling Williams, a jail maintenance worker, for allegedly cutting off water to the cell block, allowing the inmates to remove the toilet from the wall. Williams has denied wrongdoing, saying he only turned off the water because of a clogged toilet in an unused cell.

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