Escape Artist Captured: New Orleans Inmate Sought for Five Months
Derrick Groves, an escaped inmate from New Orleans, was captured in Atlanta after five months on the run. He had been part of a daring jailbreak that ...
Capture of Last Louisiana Jailbreak Escapee Ends Month-Long Hunt
• Crime, Politics, Derrick Groves, Louisiana inmate, escape, New Orleans jail, capture, U.S. Marshals, murder conviction, reward, standoff, jailbreak, security lapses, maintenance worker, aiding fugitives, Orleans Parish Sheriff, rtwnews.com, Capture of Last Louisiana Jailbreak Escapee Ends Month-Long Hunt
Derrick Groves, the final escapee from a May jailbreak in Louisiana, has been apprehended in Atlanta after a months-long manhunt. His mother expressed relief but concern for his safety following his capture.
ATLANTA (RTW News) — Derrick Groves, the only Louisiana inmate still on the run after a daring jailbreak in May that allowed ten men to escape through a hole behind a toilet, has been captured in Atlanta, U.S. Marshals confirmed Wednesday.
After evading authorities for nearly five months, Groves was apprehended in a house following a short standoff. He had previously been facing a life sentence for murder and was the most dangerous of the inmates who fled.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Brian Fair stated, “He was hiding in a crawl space. It appears he was the only one in this house, and he was hidden pretty well.” No other arrests were reported at the time of his capture.
The other nine escapees were recaptured within six weeks, with most remaining in Louisiana. Each of them had a history of violent crimes and were awaiting sentencing.
A Mother's Worry
Groves' mother, Stephanie Groves, expressed her emotional turmoil upon learning of her son’s capture via social media. “I’m just glad it’s over with,” she said, holding back tears and sharing her concerns for her son’s safety.
Flashback to the Jailbreak
The jailbreak occurred on May 16 when Groves and the nine others utilized a faulty cell door and crawled through a hole they created behind a toilet before scaling a barbed-wire fence. The sophistication of the escape brought to light several security lapses at the facility.
Authorities arrested a maintenance worker linked to the escape, while some of the escapees’ friends and family members have been accused of aiding them.
Legal Repercussions
All ten men involved face additional charges for the escape, alongside their previous criminal charges. Groves, along with the others, is charged with simple escape, which carries a sentence of two to five years.
The incident highlights significant flaws in prison security and has drawn criticism of Orleans Parish Sheriff's Department’s management of the facility.