Search Intensifies for Seven Escaped New Orleans Inmates Amid Multi-Agency Hunt

A massive manhunt is underway for seven inmates who escaped from the Orleans Parish Justice Center, with three already recaptured and a $10,000 reward offered by the FBI for information leading to their capture. State and federal agencies, including the FBI, U.S. Marshals, and local police, are collaborating extensively, utilizing resources like aircraft and drones to track the fugitives, who are believed to still be in Louisiana but may have moved to other states. Governor Jeff Landry has criticized delays in the court system for contributing to jail overcrowding and the escape, noting that nine of the ten escapees were pretrial detainees, some awaiting sentencing for years. Landry has ordered a full audit of the jail by the Department of Corrections and an inventory of inmates awaiting sentencing, while the state Attorney General is leading an investigation into the jail break. Authorities warn that anyone aiding the fugitives will face criminal charges, emphasizing that public tips have been instrumental in recent captures. The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office has faced scrutiny for jail security failures, including defective locks and a compromised wall, as officials vow to prevent such incidents in the future.