Ten inmates escaped from the Orleans Justice Center early Friday, May 16, 2025, in a bold breakout that has sparked a citywide manhunt.
Three have been recaptured, Kendall Myles, Robert Moody, and Dkenan Dennis, but seven remain at large, prompting comparisons to the TV series Prison Break.
The escapees took advantage of faulty cell locks and broke through a wall behind a toilet, making their way into a maintenance corridor before climbing over a barbed-wire fence.
Authorities believe the inmates escaped around midnight and were found missing during an 8:30 a.m. headcount (13:30 GMT) on Friday at the Orleans Parish Jail.
“There’s no way anyone could leave this facility without assistance,” Sheriff Susan Huston said during a press briefing.
The escapees left taunting messages like “To Easy LoL” and “Catch us when you can” scrawled on the cell wall, suggesting inside help.
The inmates, charged with crimes like murder and domestic abuse, exploited known facility flaws, with Sheriff Susan Hutson citing faulty infrastructure. The delayed discovery and notification drew criticism, and the FBI now offers $5,000 rewards per fugitive.
Similar to Michael Scofield in Prison Break, who devises a complex escape plan from Fox River State Penitentiary, the inmates exploited structural vulnerabilities and relied on clever strategies. Their use of a toilet breach closely mirrors the methods seen in the show.
However, unlike the series’ heroic narrative, these escapees are dangerous, and the real-world manhunt lacks Hollywood’s tidy resolution. Posts on X note the similarities, with one user joking it’s “Prison Break without the soundtrack.”
