Fourth arrest made, accused in aiding escaped Orleans Parish inmates
- On May 22, 2025, New Orleans authorities arrested a fourth person accused of helping inmates escape the Orleans Justice Center on May 16.
- The jailbreak involved 10 inmates exploiting security lapses, including a maintenance worker cutting water to assist the escape.
- Several accomplices, such as Casey Smith and Cortnie Harris, admitted or faced charges for transporting fugitives, while five inmates remain at large.
- Authorities recaptured five escapees and arrested at least seven helpers, offering a $20,000 reward for tips, as confirmed by officials.
- The escape triggered intensified investigations and leadership suspensions, raising concerns about jail security and staff accountability in New Orleans.
17 Articles
17 Articles
More Arrests in New Orleans for Aiding Prison Escapees
More residents of the New Orleans area have been arrested and charged with helping recently escaped jail prisoners than the number of prisoners recaptured since the mass jailbreak. There are now at least 6 civilians charged with helping the escaped prisoners in some fashion, while only 5 of the 10 prisoners involved in a mass breakout from the Orleans Parish jail have been returned to custody. CNN reported that another arrest has been made for h…
Sawed pipes and taunting messages: How a mass escape exposed a New Orleans jail's security failures
Ten inmates escaped the Orleans Parish Justice Center in one of the biggest jailbreaks in Louisiana history, enabled by failures that had previously been cited by authorities.
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