NEW ORLEANS — A massive manhunt is underway across Louisiana as authorities continue their search for five inmates who remain at large after a daring escape from the Orleans Parish Justice Center early Friday morning. The incident, one of the most significant jailbreaks in the state’s history, has raised serious questions about security lapses and the possibility of inside help.
Vanburen, 26, was arrested in 2021 on a second-degree murder charge while already in custody for an armed robbery, according to New Orleans police. Vanburen pleaded not guilty.
Authorities continue to search for 26-year-old Lenton Vanburen, one of five inmates still at large following a daring escape from the Orleans Parish Justice Center on May 16. Vanburen, who faces charges in connection to a 2021 homicide in New Orleans East, is considered armed and dangerous.
Despite intensive efforts from local and federal agencies, Vanburen has not yet been apprehended. As of Wednesday, there are no confirmed reports of his capture or death, according to the FBI and the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office.
A potential break in the case surfaced when a New Orleans rideshare driver reported a possible encounter with Vanburen. According to the driver’s account, he picked up a man resembling Vanburen from a residence on North Galvez Street and transported him to a location in New Orleans East. The passenger, the driver noted, kept his face partially concealed and was on a phone call for the duration of the ride.
It was only after seeing Vanburen’s photo in local news coverage that the driver made the connection and contacted the FBI. He has since been cooperating fully with investigators, authorities confirmed.
The FBI and local law enforcement are actively pursuing leads and caution the public to remain vigilant. More than 200 law enforcement officers have been deployed to assist in the manhunt for the five remaining escapees, all of whom are considered potentially dangerous.
Escape Through Bathroom Wall
The escape occurred around 1 a.m. Friday, when 10 inmates managed to break free from the jail. According to investigators, the men removed a toilet and sink from a cell with the water supply shut off, cut through steel bars, and crawled through a hole in the wall.
Before making their escape, they left behind a taunting message scrawled on the cell wall: “to easy LOL.”
The inmates then exited the building through the jail’s loading dock, discarded their uniforms, scaled a perimeter wall, and fled across Interstate 10.
It wasn’t until a routine headcount at 8:30 a.m. — more than seven hours later — that jail officials realized the men were missing.
Maintenance Worker Charged
On Tuesday, authorities arrested a maintenance worker, Sterling Williams, alleging he assisted the escape by shutting off the water supply, which allowed the inmates to dismantle the toilet and sink. Williams, who faces charges related to aiding in the escape, told investigators he was threatened by an inmate who said he would “shank him” if he didn’t comply.
However, Williams’s attorney, Michael Kennedy, strongly refuted those claims, saying his client was mischaracterized and acted at the direction of a sheriff’s deputy who reported a toilet overflow. Kennedy said the inmates likely staged the plumbing issue to manipulate staff into shutting off the water.
“He was merely a tool that the escapees used to further their plan — without his knowledge,” Kennedy said in a statement, adding that Williams intends to plead not guilty.
Security Failures Under Scrutiny
Officials also confirmed that a civilian employee in charge of monitoring the jail’s security system was away from their post — reportedly retrieving food — at the time of the escape. That absence may have contributed to the delay in discovering the jailbreak.
The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Louisiana State Police, and federal agencies including the FBI are now coordinating the investigation and search. Authorities have deployed over 200 officers in the effort to locate the remaining fugitives.
Five Still on the Run
The escapees range in age from 19 to 42 and face a litany of serious charges, including murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, and illegal weapons possession.
As of Tuesday evening, five inmates have been recaptured, while five remain at large:
- Jermaine Donald, 42
- Derrick Groves, 27
- Antoine Massey, 32
- Leo Tate Sr., 31
- Lenton Vanburen, 26
Authorities have warned that the fugitives may be armed and dangerous and have urged the public to remain vigilant.
Rewards of $20,000 per fugitive have been offered by the FBI and CrimeStoppers for information leading to their arrests. Captured inmates have since been transferred to a secure state-run facility.
The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office has pledged full support for the investigation, and public pressure is mounting for a thorough review of protocols and personnel oversight at the Orleans Parish facility.
Anyone with information is urged to contact local law enforcement or CrimeStoppers immediately.