New Orleans Jail Worker Arrested Aiding 10 Inmates Escape, 6 Still at Large

A maintenance worker, Sterling Williams, has been arrested for aiding the escape of 10 dangerous inmates from the Orleans Parish Jail by turning off the water supply to a toilet covering a hole in a cell wall, which allowed the inmates to slip through and escape. The inmates bypassed faulty cell locks and took advantage of a moment when the lone guard was away, escaping through a breached wall behind a toilet; graffiti near the hole read "To Easy LoL." Sheriff Susan Hutson acknowledged multiple security failures, including understaffing and procedural lapses, and took full responsibility for the incident while noting intentional internal wrongdoing. Williams admitted he was coerced by threats from the inmates to turn off the water and initially did not come forward voluntarily. Authorities have suspended three sheriff's employees and continue to investigate, with six inmates still at large. Williams faces charges including malfeasance in office and multiple counts of simple escape, and officials urge anyone with knowledge of the escape to come forward.