Inside the New Orleans Jailbreak: Maintenance Worker Arrested for Aiding Escape of 10 Inmates

On May 16, 2025, a significant security breach occurred at the Orleans Parish Jail in New Orleans, Louisiana, when ten inmates escaped through a hole behind a toilet in their cell. The escape was facilitated by a maintenance worker, Sterling Williams, who allegedly turned off the water supply to the cell, allowing the inmates to remove the toilet and access the hole in the wall.

The Escape Plan

According to court documents, Williams claimed he was threatened by inmate Antoine Massey, who allegedly warned he would “shank” Williams if he didn’t comply. Williams admitted to turning off the water, which prevented flooding that could have alerted guards to the inmates’ activities.

The inmates dismantled the sink-toilet unit and cut through the steel bars behind it, creating an exit point. They then navigated through the hole, scaled a barbed-wire fence, and fled across Interstate 10 into a residential area. Surveillance footage captured the inmates using blankets to cover the barbed wire during their escape.

Aftermath and Investigation

The escape went unnoticed for several hours, with the first headcount revealing the missing inmates around 8:30 a.m., providing the fugitives with a significant head start. As of May 21, five of the ten escapees have been recaptured, while the remaining five, including Massey, are still at large.

Williams has been charged with ten counts of principal to simple escape and one count of malfeasance in office. His bond has been set at $1.1 million.

The incident has prompted a broader investigation into security lapses at the facility. Sheriff Susan Hutson has suspended her re-election campaign to focus on addressing the crisis and restoring public trust.

Images from the Incident:

Hole Behind Toilet Used for Escape:

Surveillance Footage of Inmates Escaping:

Mugshot of Sterling Williams: