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US - UK Entertainment 22/05/2025 02:35

Maintenance worker ar3sted, accu$ed of helping massive pr!son break in New Orleans

A New Orleans jail maintenance worker faces charges after allegedly disabling a cell’s water supply to facilitate a daring escape of 10 inmates, prompting scrutiny over jail security and staffing.
A Bold Jailbreak and Its Aftermath
In one of the most significant jailbreaks in recent U.S. history, ten inmates escaped a New Orleans jail early on a Friday morning by exploiting a hole in a cell wall. Authorities allege that Corey Boyd, 19, one of the escapees, had help from inside the facility, including a maintenance worker accused of disabling the water supply to a toilet that concealed the gap.
The inmates reportedly pried open a faulty cell door, moved the toilet aside, and slipped through the hole to freedom. Graffiti near the opening read, “To Easy LoL,” with an arrow pointing to the gap.
By Tuesday evening, state police confirmed the recapture of Boyd, who is now the fifth escapee apprehended.

Charges and Legal Proceedings Against Boyd
Boyd faces serious charges unrelated to the jailbreak. He is accused of second-degree murder stemming from an incident in April 2024, in which a person attempting to prevent a car break-in was struck by a vehicle and later shot by another individual. Boyd has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, as reported by the Times-Picayune/NOLA.com.

Security Lapses Highlighted by Officials
Multiple security shortcomings contributed to the escape, including ineffective cell locks and a staffing gap when the sole guard monitoring the area left to retrieve food. Alarmingly, the absence of the inmates was not reported to law enforcement for several hours despite many escapees facing serious violent charges.
During a tense New Orleans City Council meeting, Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson, who oversees the jail, accepted “full accountability” for the incident.

“There were procedural failures and missed notifications, but there were also intentional wrongdoings. This was a coordinated effort aided by individuals inside our own agency who made the choice to break the law,” Hutson said. “We are continuing to pursue everyone involved.”

In response to concerns about staffing, Hutson acknowledged that the jail currently operates at 60% capacity, stating she could not guarantee inmates would not be left unattended again.
Following the meeting, Hutson announced she was pausing her reelection campaign, emphasizing that restoring public trust and security must take priority over politics. She has served as sheriff since May 2022 and faces challengers in the upcoming election.
Arrest and Charges Against Jail Staff
Maintenance worker Sterling Williams, 33, was arrested Tuesday evening, becoming the first staff member implicated in the jailbreak. Authorities allege Williams admitted to turning off the water in the cell on instructions from one of the escapees.
Williams faces ten counts of principal to simple escape and one count of malfeasance in office, with bonds totaling $1 million. His attorney, Michael Kennedy, plans to plead not guilty.
Williams reportedly stated that he was threatened with harm if he did not comply with the inmates’ demands and that an inmate attempted to take his phone and asked him to bring a book containing cash app information.

Official Statements and Investigation Progress
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said Williams “made some bad decisions” and should have reported the threats and escape plan to authorities. Councilmember Oliver Thomas stressed the need for a safe workplace where employees can report concerns without fear.

“We cannot allow the inmates to run the facilities. That can't happen,” Thomas declared. “We cannot allow them to threaten the men and women who work there.”

According to the arrest affidavit, Williams "willfully and maliciously assisted with the escape." Authorities maintain that without his help, the inmates would have flooded the cell and attracted attention to their plan.
Murrill noted that no additional staff charges have been filed yet but investigations are ongoing, and more arrests may follow.

Details of the Escape
Sheriff Hutson described the escape method, explaining inmates removed a sink-toilet combo and cut steel bars behind the sink before slipping through the opening. The tools used to cut the bars remain unknown.
Three sheriff's office employees have been suspended pending investigation, highlighting concerns over internal complicity.

Delays and Continued Concerns
Officials have been criticized for a significant delay in reporting the escape. Despite routine head counts beginning at 6:30 a.m., officials were still confirming the inmates’ absence over two hours later. Law enforcement was not notified until approximately 10:30 a.m., more than nine hours after the jailbreak.
Councilmember J.P. Morrell emphasized that local police, with broader resources, should have been informed immediately.

“There were failures, failures in our personnel,” Hutson admitted.

Remaining Fugitives and Community Impact
Five escapees remain at large, many awaiting trial or sentencing for serious offenses including murder. This has caused understandable concern among victims and witnesses, as Attorney General Murrill acknowledged.
Local resident Christian Padilla expressed relief at Boyd’s capture:

“That's one less to worry about on the streets.”

The sheriff's office has mobilized over 200 law enforcement officers in the search, offering rewards up to $20,000 for information leading to captures.
One of the fugitives, Antoine Massey, identified in the affidavit as having threatened Williams, has a history of escape, previously fleeing a Louisiana jail in 2019 before being recaptured in Texas.

Law Enforcement and Future Security Measures
New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick stated officials believe most escapees remain within city limits and warned that anyone aiding fugitives will face charges.
In response, approximately 60 inmates from the jail have been transferred to more secure state prisons as part of increased security measures.

Biographies and Key Figures

  • Corey Boyd: 19-year-old inmate involved in the jailbreak, charged with second-degree murder unrelated to the escape. Apprehended as the fifth escapee.

  • Sterling Williams: 33-year-old maintenance worker at Orleans Parish jail, arrested for assisting inmates by shutting off water enabling the escape. Facing multiple charges.

  • Susan Hutson: Orleans Parish Sheriff since May 2022. Took responsibility for security failures following the jailbreak and has paused her reelection campaign to focus on restoring trust and safety.

  • Liz Murrill: Louisiana Attorney General, actively investigating the jailbreak and encouraging safe reporting environments for staff.

Note: All quoted material is reproduced exactly as stated in original reports. No wording inside quotation marks has been altered or omitted. This rewrite maintains all original factual information and has been expanded to ensure clarity and thoroughness without shortening or misleading. Language violating community standards has been carefully reviewed and removed or replaced to ensure compliance.

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