The hunt continues for five inmates who remain at large after a jailbreak in New Orleans last week.
Authorities say the escape was aided by a maintenance worker inside the building, a man now facing felony charges, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
On Tuesday, Corey Boyd, 19, became the fifth inmate to be recaptured after he and nine others escaped in the early hours of May 16. Boyd was initially in custody for allegedly murdering someone who tried to stop him from breaking into cars, per NOLA.com.
Their method of escape, forcing open a cell door, removing a toilet, and carving through bars and plumbing pipes to access a loading dock, has shocked the public and prompted online criticism of the New Orleans Sheriff’s Office.
Sterling Williams, the 33-year-old jail maintenance worker, now stands accused of helping the men escape. Williams has been charged with 10 counts of principal to simple escape and one count of malfeasance in office.
According to a statement from Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, Williams admitted to shutting off the water to the inmates’ cell after being told to do so by Antoine Massey – one of the escapees and a known violent repeat offender.
Apparently, the water needed to be shut off so that once the inmates broke through the plumbing lines and wall behind the toilet, the cell would not flood, potentially notifying the corrections officers.
Williams initially denied any involvement in the escape, investigators said, but later cooperated and provided key details to the inmate’s plans. According to an AP News report, he also claimed that Massey had threatened to “shank” him if he didn’t follow through with their escape strategy.
Surveillance footage reportedly shows Williams conversing with Massey, Derrick Groves, and others in their pod prior to the breakout.
Groves, one of the more notorious escapees, was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder in October 2024 and is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Authorities suspect that Williams’ assistance might have even extended beyond the night of the escape.
Three other jail employees have also been suspended as the investigation continues.
Now, in a bizarre twist, the dramatic escape has created a very unique online gambling scene.
Polymarket, a cryptocurrency-based betting platform, is enabling users to bet on whether each of the five remaining fugitives will be recaptured by Friday. Users can also place bets on the likelihood of each inmate still on the run being caught.
As of Wednesday morning, odds varied by inmate: a 43% chance for Groves, 32% for Jermaine Donald, and only 24% for Massey, the alleged mastermind of the escape. The market has seen thousands of dollars in wagers, with over $1,300 bet on Lenton Vanburen alone.
A post from Polymarket’s official account Tuesday read, “PRISONER PARLAYS? You can now bet on which inmates from the New Orleans jailbreak will be captured by Friday,” garnering over 3 million views on X as of Thursday.
The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office and Louisiana State Police are now coordinating their manhunt alongside the U.S. Marshals and the FBI. Troopers are also allegedly deploying more “intelligence resources” as officers continue to comb the New Orleans area, where all five captured inmates have so far been found.
The escape has rattled not only law enforcement but also city residents.
DA staff reportedly fled their offices out of fear, and Sheriff Susan Hutson has faced tough questions about how such a coordinated escape involving violent offenders could unfold under her watch.
Among those still at large are Groves, Massey, Donald, Vanburen, and Leo Tate Sr. All are considered armed and dangerous, with charges ranging from murder to armed robbery.
This isn’t Massey’s first escape. In 2019, he and another inmate fled the Morehouse Parish Detention Center by cutting through a chain-link fence. They were eventually found in Lancaster, Texas.
With Polymarket’s bets expiring Friday and the manhunt intensifying, New Orleans remains on edge – as well as gamblers across America waiting to see if they placed their bets correctly.