Last Fugitive from Major New Orleans Jailbreak Captured in Atlanta After Five-Month Manhunt
Derrick Groves, the final escapee from a May 2025 New Orleans jailbreak, was apprehended in Atlanta after a five-month search. Convicted of murder, Groves and nine others exploited security lapses, leading to a multi-agency manhunt and numerous arrests for aiding fugitives.
CBS NewsEscaped New Orleans inmate Derrick Groves captured after standoff in Atlanta, police say
CBS NewsHow escaped New Orleans inmate Derrick Groves was captured after 5 months
BBC NewsEscaped New Orleans inmate captured after 5 months on the run
The GuardianLast of 10 inmates who escaped from New Orleans jail captured by police
Overview
Derrick Groves, convicted of second-degree murder, was the last of ten inmates captured after escaping a New Orleans jail on May 16, 2025, following a five-month multi-agency manhunt.
The inmates exploited a broken cell door and a hole behind a toilet, allegedly aided by a former jail employee and a maintenance worker, escaping unnoticed for hours.
Groves, facing a life sentence, was located and arrested in Atlanta following a Crime Stoppers tip and digital evidence, with a SWAT team executing a search warrant.
Sixteen individuals, including Groves' girlfriend and family, were arrested for providing food, cash, transport, and shelter to the fugitives before and after the jailbreak.
Groves will be extradited to Louisiana to face additional charges, while the other nine escapees, mostly recaptured within weeks, have pleaded not guilty to escape charges.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by emphasizing the dangerousness of the captured inmate, Derrick Groves, and the successful, diligent efforts of law enforcement. They highlight his violent criminal record and the audacity of the jailbreak, reinforcing a narrative of public safety being restored. The coverage prioritizes official statements and details of the challenging capture, underscoring the importance of bringing dangerous fugitives to justice.