The manhunt for ten escaped inmates from a New Orleans prison continues as authorities confirmed the capture of a fifth escapee.
On Tuesday (May 20), Corey Boyd, 19, who was being held on serious charges including second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, aggravated battery, and threatening a public official, was apprehended on the fifth day of the ongoing search.
In addition to his original charges, Boyd now faces an added charge of simple escape.
Federal law enforcement agents stand guard during a raid of a medicinal marijuana club June 22, 2005 in San Franciso, California.
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The mass escape, which has shocked both local officials and the community, has also led to the arrest of 33-year-old Sterling Williams, a maintenance worker at the prison.
According to investigators, Williams played a direct role in the inmates’ escape by cutting off the water supply to the cell, enabling the removal of the toilet and sink and creating a hole through which the inmates escaped.
Williams reportedly claimed he acted under duress, telling officials that the prisoners threatened to stab him with a makeshift knife if he didn’t comply. His role in the breakout is under further investigation, but the incident highlights serious security lapses at the facility.
A California Department of Corrections officer looks on as inmates at the Mule Creek State Prison exercise in the yard August 28, 2007 in Ione, California.
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Despite Boyd’s capture, five inmates remain at large and are considered extremely dangerous. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill urged the public to remain vigilant. “Great work by @LAStatePolice and all our law enforcement partners on the ground,” Murrill wrote on social media. “5 more to go.”
The fugitives still on the run include Jermaine Donald, 42; Derrick Groves, 27; Antoine T. Massey, 32; Leo Tate, 31; and Lenton Vanburen, 26. Their charges span a range of serious crimes, from car theft and burglary to homicide.
Law enforcement agencies across Louisiana continue to coordinate efforts in the search, utilizing roadblocks, helicopters, and K-9 units in the hope of bringing the remaining escapees to justice. Meanwhile, the prison faces mounting scrutiny over its security protocols and staffing procedures in the wake of the daring breakout.
Prison officers stand guard a cell block at maximum security penitentiary CECOT (Center for the Compulsory Housing of Terrorism) on April 4, 2025 in Tecoluca, San Vicente, El Salvador.
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