New Orleans Jail Escape Linked to Inside Help, Employee Arrested
In a story that sounds like it was pulled straight from a prison-break film, New Orleans is reeling from the chaos of a jail escape that saw ten inmates vanish into the night—and now, the alleged inside help is in cuffs.
The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office confirmed the arrest of Sterling Williams, a 33-year-old maintenance worker for the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office. Williams reportedly told investigators that he turned off the water supply to a cell from which the inmates made their escape. The move—seemingly minor—was one of several actions that, according to authorities, helped the escapees pull off their daring and coordinated flight.
Williams is now facing 10 counts related to the breakout and one count of malfeasance in office. Why? His arrest warrant claims he was acting under the direction of an inmate.
“This was a coordinated effort, aided by individuals inside our own agency who made the choice to break the law,” said Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson during a tense city council committee meeting. Her department is now under intense scrutiny, promising to “pursue everyone involved.”
Still Looking For Some Inmates
The update comes on the heels of Monday’s arrest of a fourth escapee, found in New Orleans East and quickly transferred to a secure state facility. Meanwhile, six inmates remain on the run, including:
- Corey Boyd
- Jermaine Donald
- Derrick Groves
- Antoine Massey
- Leo Tate
- Lenton Vanburen
These individuals are not your run-of-the-mill escapees. They’re facing serious charges—from aggravated assault to murder. The public wasn’t notified for hours after the breach, a delay that’s raising eyebrows and triggering fears across the city.
Authorities say the men escaped through a hole carved into a jail wall, sprinted across an interstate, and disappeared—taking advantage of a faulty lock system, an unmonitored camera room, and reportedly, a corrections officer who left to grab food.
Leadership is Frustrated With it All
Orleans Parish D.A. Jason Williams didn’t mince words at Monday’s press conference: “The idea that they are saying they had to go back and look at footage is ridiculous. Those monitors are there to be observed in real time.”
This wasn’t just a slip-up. It was a system failure—one that’s left a city on edge, lawyers fleeing their posts, and families questioning how ten men could vanish from a secure jail without anyone noticing in real time.
And as authorities continue their multi-agency manhunt, the deeper question remains: How deep does the corruption go—and who’s next?
