Ten inmates broke out of the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans early Friday morning by removing a toilet in their cell and crawling through a hole behind it that led into a maintenance corridor. From there, they exited the building undetected. The escape wasn’t discovered until a routine headcount at 8:30 a.m., prompting a full lockdown of the facility.
According to Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson, the inmates left graffiti on the wall mocking staff, with messages like “Too easy lol” and “Catch us when you can.” Authorities believe the escape may have been aided by someone inside the jail, and an internal investigation has been launched to examine possible breaches in protocol and oversight.
As of Saturday morning, three of the escapees have been recaptured, while seven remain at large. Their names have not been publicly released due to the ongoing tactical search. Law enforcement agencies across Louisiana and neighboring states have been alerted, and the U.S. Marshals Service has joined the manhunt.
The Orleans Justice Center has been under scrutiny for years due to chronic understaffing, poor conditions, and repeated security failures. This latest breach has intensified criticism of Sheriff Hutson’s leadership and the facility’s management. City officials have called for an immediate review of structural vulnerabilities and staffing protocols to prevent further incidents.
