Authorities in Louisiana are investigating a major security breach at the Orleans Parish jail after ten inmates escaped from custody in the early hours of Fri, May 17. A maintenance worker, 33-year-old Sterling Williams, was arrested on Mon, May 20, for allegedly helping the inmates escape by turning off the water supply to a cell—enabling the detainees to remove a toilet and slip through a hole in the wall.
The escape, described by law enforcement as carefully orchestrated, involved inmates facing serious charges including murder and armed robbery.
Image: Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office
According to Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson, the breakout began when inmates forcibly dislodged a sliding door inside the 1D dorm of the jail. The group then ripped a toilet from the wall and broke through metal bars surrounding an exposed plumbing hole. From there, the inmates climbed down a wall and sprinted across a nearby highway to freedom (BBC News).
Authorities later discovered messages left behind in the cell. One read “To[o] Easy LoL” with an arrow pointing to the hole, while another featured a smiley face with its tongue out. A partially smudged message appeared to taunt officers: “Catch us if you can.”
Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff’s Office
Sterling Williams, a jail maintenance worker, was arrested Monday night and charged with 10 counts of principal to simple escape and one count of malfeasance in office, according to the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office (WDSU).
Court documents reveal Williams admitted to investigators that he turned off the water supply to Cell 6 in the 1D dorm after being threatened by inmate Antoine Massey. Massey—one of the six inmates still at large—allegedly told Williams he would “shank” him if he did not cooperate. A “shank” refers to a makeshift knife commonly used in prisons.
Surveillance footage shows Williams interacting with Massey, Derrick Groves, and another inmate prior to the escape. Additionally, Groves reportedly attempted to take Williams’ phone and asked him to deliver a book containing Cash App information to his cousin in another jail pod (NOLA.com).
According to court documents obtained by WDSU, Williams “willfully and maliciously assisted with the escape,” and failed to report any knowledge of the plan, even after being initially questioned by investigators.
Williams’ attorney, Michael Kennedy, has publicly maintained his client’s innocence, arguing that Williams acted under duress and had no intention of aiding the escape.
Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office via Reuters
“The district attorney has 60 days to formally accept the charges,” Kennedy told WDSU, urging the public to withhold judgment until all facts are revealed.
Meanwhile, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill emphasized that the investigation is ongoing. “We will uncover all the facts eventually, and anyone who aided and abetted will be prosecuted to the full extent the law allows,” Murrill said in a statement. “I encourage anyone who knows anything and even those who may have provided assistance to come forward now to obtain the best possible outcome in their particular case.”
Sheriff Hutson confirmed that three jail employees, including Williams, have been suspended without pay as part of the internal probe.
Of the 10 inmates who escaped, five have since been captured. The remaining six—including Antoine Massey—are still at large. Law enforcement agencies are actively searching for the fugitives and caution the public against engaging with them.
The Orleans Parish jail is located near the center of New Orleans, approximately two miles from the French Quarter. Given the proximity to populated areas, authorities are urging residents to stay alert and report any suspicious activity.
