New Orleans Prison Escape: Last Inmate Captured After Five Months
Derrick Groves, the final escapee of a Louisiana jail break, was apprehended in Atlanta, ending a five-month pursuit by police....
Major Louisiana Jailbreak Ends with Capture of Final Escapee
• Crime, Politics, Derrick Groves, Louisiana inmate, escape, New Orleans jail, capture, U.S. Marshals, murder conviction, reward, standoff, jailbreak, security lapses, maintenance worker, aiding fugitives, Orleans Parish Sheriff, echosphere.news, Major Louisiana Jailbreak Ends with Capture of Final Escapee
Derrick Groves, the last remaining escapee from a massive Louisiana jailbreak, has been apprehended in Atlanta after evading authorities for nearly five months. His capture concludes one of the largest jailbreaks in recent U.S. history, raising questions about security lapses at the New Orleans jail.
ATLANTA (AP) — The only escaped Louisiana inmate who remained on the run following an audacious May jailbreak has been found in Atlanta, according to the U.S. Marshals. Derrick Groves, aged 28, was apprehended in a house after evading authorities for nearly five months. Deputy U.S. Marshal Brian Fair stated that Groves was hidden well, reportedly in a crawl space.
Prior to the jailbreak, Groves had been convicted of murder and faced a potential life sentence, making him the most violent of the escapees. Authorities had offered a $50,000 reward for tips leading to his recapture.
The capture was confirmed by Sgt. Kate Stegall, who noted no other arrests were made in the house where Groves was found. He was apprehended by a joint task force from the U.S. Marshals and Atlanta Police Department.
The jailbreak, which happened on May 16, was notable for its intensity, with Groves and nine others escaping from a New Orleans jail. The men opened a faulty cell door, squeezed through a hole behind a toilet, and managed to scale a barbed-wire fence.
Following their escape, the inmates' absence was only discovered during a morning headcount. They left a clear message on the cell wall, indicating the means of their escape. Subsequently, much criticism has been directed toward the jail's management and security protocols, which city and state officials claim were severely lacking.
A maintenance worker was arrested for allegedly aiding in the escape by disabling the toilet's water supply, although he claimed ignorance. Additionally, Groves' girlfriend has been accused of facilitating the breakout.
In the months following the escape, hundreds of law enforcement officers worked tirelessly, utilizing technology and community tips to locate the fugitives. Most of the escapees were caught quickly, with Groves being the last to be recaptured.
Reflecting on her son's capture, Groves' mother expressed distress, conveying a desire to speak with him. She mentioned concerns about his safety and a hope for a peaceful surrender. “I’m just glad it’s over with,” she remarked, though she acknowledged the inevitability of his capture.
With extensive criminal backgrounds, the escapees will face additional charges, compounding their prior convictions. The May escape has ignited a conversation regarding the infrastructure and oversight within correctional facilities in Louisiana, leading to calls for reform.
As of now, all ten men have been charged with escape, which carries an added prison sentence on top of their existing charges.
Prior to the jailbreak, Groves had been convicted of murder and faced a potential life sentence, making him the most violent of the escapees. Authorities had offered a $50,000 reward for tips leading to his recapture.
The capture was confirmed by Sgt. Kate Stegall, who noted no other arrests were made in the house where Groves was found. He was apprehended by a joint task force from the U.S. Marshals and Atlanta Police Department.
The jailbreak, which happened on May 16, was notable for its intensity, with Groves and nine others escaping from a New Orleans jail. The men opened a faulty cell door, squeezed through a hole behind a toilet, and managed to scale a barbed-wire fence.
Following their escape, the inmates' absence was only discovered during a morning headcount. They left a clear message on the cell wall, indicating the means of their escape. Subsequently, much criticism has been directed toward the jail's management and security protocols, which city and state officials claim were severely lacking.
A maintenance worker was arrested for allegedly aiding in the escape by disabling the toilet's water supply, although he claimed ignorance. Additionally, Groves' girlfriend has been accused of facilitating the breakout.
In the months following the escape, hundreds of law enforcement officers worked tirelessly, utilizing technology and community tips to locate the fugitives. Most of the escapees were caught quickly, with Groves being the last to be recaptured.
Reflecting on her son's capture, Groves' mother expressed distress, conveying a desire to speak with him. She mentioned concerns about his safety and a hope for a peaceful surrender. “I’m just glad it’s over with,” she remarked, though she acknowledged the inevitability of his capture.
With extensive criminal backgrounds, the escapees will face additional charges, compounding their prior convictions. The May escape has ignited a conversation regarding the infrastructure and oversight within correctional facilities in Louisiana, leading to calls for reform.
As of now, all ten men have been charged with escape, which carries an added prison sentence on top of their existing charges.