To Easy LoL' - New Orleans Jail Break May Have Been Inside Job

A brazen escape from the Orleans Parish Jail in New Orleans is under intense investigation, with authorities strongly suspecting that the elaborate breakout was facilitated by individuals from within the facility. Ten inmates, including several facing serious charges such as murder, managed to flee the jail in the early hours of Friday morning, prompting a massive manhunt. Sheriff Susan Hutson stated unequivocally during a press conference that "there's no way for anyone to get out of this facility without help," indicating a high probability of internal assistance.
The escape unfolded around 12:23 AM local time when the inmates reportedly dislodged a sliding door from their cell. They then proceeded to break through a wall behind a toilet, creating an opening by ripping the plumbing fixture from the wall and bending metal bars. This allowed them access to a loading dock, from where they scaled a security wall and crossed a highway to freedom. Adding a taunting element to their escape, the inmates left messages scrawled on the wall, including "To Easy LoL" with an arrow pointing towards the hole they created.
Law enforcement officials released images depicting the point of exit, highlighting "clean cuts" on the metal bars, further fueling suspicions of inside involvement. While one of the ten escapees was apprehended in the French Quarter, the remaining nine are considered armed and dangerous, intensifying the urgency of the ongoing search. Sheriff Hutson described the situation as "very serious and unacceptable," emphasizing that a full-scale search operation is underway.
Authorities are exploring the possibility that the escapees received assistance from individuals within the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office, acknowledging indications pointing towards an inside job. The sheriff's office also noted that the escape was likely aided by "defective locks and doors" and highlighted significant facility issues, including a substantial number of inoperable security cameras. Alarmingly, only a civilian surveillance technician was on duty at the time of the escape, and the breach behind the toilet in the housing unit went unnoticed.
The escape has drawn considerable criticism from local and state officials, particularly regarding the delay in public notification and the apparent security lapses. Law enforcement agencies are collaborating with federal partners and utilizing surveillance to track down the remaining fugitives while also focusing on safeguarding potential trial witnesses. The Orleans Parish Jail has been under federal monitoring since 2013 due to prior rights violations, and this incident underscores the persistent systemic security and staffing challenges plaguing the facility.
Source@BBC