A dramatic jailbreak from the Orleans Justice Center has triggered a sprawling manhunt across the American South.
Ten inmates, many facing serious violent charges, escaped through a hole behind a toilet in their cell in the early hours of 16 May.
But it was a where-effective local who might have turned the tide—one who noticed one of the escapees sleeping on an open bench and notified police, reportedly getting $10,000 in reward money. Six of the escapees were still on the loose as of May 20, 2025, with police cautioning that they were armed and dangerous, leading to increased public alertness and international interest.
The break started about 12:22 a.m. on May 16, 2025, when inmates breached a locked cell door to gain entry into a handicap-accessible cell. They used a pre-cut hole behind one of the toilets, which opened into a loading dock. They used blanket material to slide down behind barbed wire, which surrounded the perimeter of the jail, and made off down Interstate 10, a main highway, discarding orange prison jumpsuits to hide among civilians.