ATLANTA, GA – The last remaining fugitive from a brazen New Orleans jail escape was captured in Atlanta after more than four months on the run, bringing an end to an extensive manhunt that spanned multiple states.
Derrick Groves was apprehended Wednesday after evading authorities since May 16, when he and nine other inmates escaped from the Orleans Justice Center by removing a toilet from a wall and crawling through a hole.
Groves was being held on second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder charges at the time of his escape. The U.S. Marshals Service credited tips from CrimeStoppers with helping locate the fugitive in Georgia’s capital city.
The audacious escape shocked officials and embarrassed the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office. Inmates left taunting messages at the escape site, including “To easy LOL” and “We Innocent,” highlighting security failures at the facility.
The other nine escapees were captured in waves over the following months. Three inmates were caught within hours of the breakout, while Gary Price was apprehended on May 19 and Corey Boyd on May 20. Three more were captured on May 26 in locations ranging from Texas to Baton Rouge.
Antoine Massey was arrested in June, leaving Groves as the sole remaining fugitive until his Wednesday capture.
During the extensive investigation, authorities arrested over a dozen people allegedly involved in helping the inmates escape or evade capture. Among those arrested was Groves’ girlfriend, Darriana Burton, who had exchanged messages with him while he was incarcerated and allegedly assisted him after the escape.
The jail break exposed serious security vulnerabilities at the Orleans Justice Center, prompting calls for a comprehensive review of facility procedures and infrastructure. Questions have been raised about how inmates were able to remove a toilet and create a hole large enough to escape through without detection.
The escape occurred during a time when New Orleans was already grappling with challenges in its criminal justice system, including staffing shortages and aging facilities in need of repair.
Groves now faces additional charges related to his escape and the four-month period he spent as a fugitive. He will be returned to Louisiana to face both the original charges and new counts stemming from the jailbreak.
The successful capture of all ten escapees demonstrates the effectiveness of multi-agency cooperation and the persistence of law enforcement in tracking down dangerous fugitives, even when they flee across state lines.
