Louisiana, Texas Recapture Eight Jail Escapees, Two Remain Armed

Following a daring escape from the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans on May 16, eight of the ten inmates who broke out have been recaptured, with two still at large. The escape involved prisoners yanking open a faulty cell door, crawling through a hole behind a toilet, scaling a barbed-wire fence, and fleeing unnoticed until the next morning's headcount. Among those recaptured are Lenton Vanburen, Leo Tate, and Jermaine Donald, who were arrested in Baton Rouge and Walker County, Texas, respectively, with assistance from multiple law enforcement agencies including the U.S. Marshals. The escapees were mostly held on serious charges, including murder, and some accomplices have also been arrested for aiding their flight or facilitating the escape, such as a jail maintenance worker allegedly turning off water to the toilet. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill emphasized that anyone helping the remaining fugitives will be arrested and prosecuted. Despite the progress, authorities remain cautious due to the dangerous nature of the two escapees still at large.