ATLANTA, GA — After nearly five months of pursuit, the final fugitive from one of the most audacious jail breaks in recent years has been brought to justice. On October 8, 2025, law enforcement officials arrested Derrick Groves, 28, in a southwest Atlanta home. He was hiding in a cramped crawl space beneath the basement, having eluded capture while his nine fellow escapees were already in custody.
The arrest marks the end of an intense, multi-jurisdictional manhunt and renews scrutiny on security failures, corrections accountability, and fugitive-tracking tactics across state lines.
The Jailbreak That Sparked It All
On May 16, 2025, ten inmates broke out of the Orleans Parish Justice Center in New Orleans in a manner that stunned authorities and the nation.
They reportedly removed a toilet fixture and created a hole behind it, squeezed through, then scaled a barbed-wire fence to escape into the night. In the cell where the escape occurred, they left graffiti: an arrow pointing at the breach and the mocking phrase “To Easy LoL.”
The escape wasn’t detected until morning head count, giving the inmates several hours to get away. By then, the city was already jolted by the news.
Nine of the escapees were quickly recaptured — many within weeks — but Groves remained at large, evading detection and raising both frustration and fear among law enforcement and the public alike.
Who Is Derrick Groves
Among the ten escapees, Groves stood out not just for his elusiveness but also his criminal background. He had previously been convicted of second-degree murder in a shooting at a Mardi Gras block party that killed two people.
He also faced manslaughter convictions in separate incidents.
Given his record and the severity of his incarcerations, officials always considered Groves the highest-risk fugitive from the group.
His extended time in hiding fueled dark speculation: that he had assistance from outside, possibly from former jail employees, family, or organized criminal contacts.
In fact, one former jail employee and Groves’ girlfriend, Darriana Burton, had already been arrested in connection with allegedly aiding his escape.
The Search: Persistence, Intelligence & Coordination
Multi-Agency Collaboration
From day one, the search for Groves was never confined to one city or one department. The operation involved the U.S. Marshals Service, Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police, New Orleans Police Department, Atlanta Police, and federal partners like the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations.
New Orleans Crimestoppers played a key role in tip gathering, offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to Groves’ capture.
Investigators examined phone and financial records, followed leads across parish and state lines, and re-interviewed friends, family, and possible accomplices.
Inside Help & Jail Vulnerabilities
From early on, authorities suspected that Groves and other escapees had some level of inside assistance. Maintenance and security staff at the jail came under immediate scrutiny.
One maintenance worker was later arrested for allegedly tampering with plumbing systems in the facility — including disabling water flow to facilitate disassembling toilets and creating escape routes.
The design of the Orleans Parish Justice Center, staffing levels, and surveillance systems were also criticized. Officials admitted structural and procedural flaws may have made the September breakout easier than expected.
Strategic Patience & Tip Cultivation
Because Groves avoided early capture, the manhunt required sustained effort. Law enforcement didn’t make rash public appearances of strength; they gathered evidence, vetted leads, and waited for credible intelligence.
In the end, a tip — delivered anonymously to New Orleans Crimestoppers — led agents to a house on Honeysuckle Street in southwest Atlanta, near Tyler Perry Studios.
The Atlanta Raid: Tension, Tactics, and Crawl Spaces
Setting & Surroundings
The home in question was a modest residence surrounded by trees and set on a slight slope. A partially collapsed garage door hinted at tampering or forced entry, and law enforcement vehicles soon blockaded access.
Because of its location, low visibility, and the cover provided by foliage, it made for a discreet hiding spot
The Raid & Use of Force
A joint task force with U.S. Marshals, SWAT, and Atlanta law enforcement secured a search warrant and deployed a multi-pronged approach.
After several hours of no obvious breakthrough, agents resorted to gas canisters to flush out hidden spaces — particularly the basement and crawl spaces.
Shortly after, a K-9 unit was introduced, and the dog ultimately located Groves curled in the cramped crawl space.
The extraction was relatively calm. Groves, stripped of shoes and shirt, was handcuffed and shackled at ankles and wrists. Video from police shows him smiling and even blowing a kiss as he was led out of the house.
Though the raid posed risks — gas, tight quarters, potential for booby traps — no law enforcement injuries or civilian casualties were reported.
Aftermath at the Scene
At the scene, investigators collected forensic evidence: fibers, footprints, cell phone traces, and signs of recent habitation. They also searched for escape tunnels, hidden caches, or structural modifications intended for concealment.
No one else was present in the house at the time; Groves had been operating solo in that location.
Law enforcement closed off streets around the area and kept neighbors temporarily restrained for safety and media control.
Reactions & Official Statements
In Louisiana
District Attorney Jason Williams issued a forceful statement: Groves’ escape marked a “serious breach of public safety” and a “historic failure of custodial security.”
Williams promised prosecutors would explore “every available legal avenue” to ensure Groves is held accountable for both his original criminal acts and the escape.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill similarly lauded the collaborative efforts behind the arrest and pledged that Groves would face additional charges linked to the escape.
Gov. Jeff Landry celebrated the result, posting: “All 10 escapees: captured! Now back where they belong — BEHIND BARS.”
In Atlanta & Georgia
Atlanta Police and federal marshals were credited for helping execute the arrest. Deputy Chief Kelly Collier confirmed the deployment of K-9 units and tactical gas, as well as the coordination of multiple agencies.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Brian Fair called the operation successful but cautioned on how difficult it was to find a fugitive in a Crawl Space, even for seasoned SWAT teams. He noted Groves had “planned to hide for a while.”
Meanwhile, in New Orleans, Sheriff Susan Hutson came under renewed criticism over the jail’s conditions and the chain of failures that allowed the breakout. Her department is facing considerable political pressure, especially during an election cycle.
Legal Implications & Next Moves
Groves now faces a stack of legal challenges. First, his existing life sentence for murder will now be appended with escape charges, which typically carry two to five years in addition to his previous sentences.
He is expected to be extradited from Georgia to Louisiana to face trial, arraignment, motions, and, if necessary, a full court hearing.
Defense lawyers may challenge several parts of the capture: the warrant’s validity, the deployment of gas, the use of a sniffing dog in confined quarters, or whether his rights were respected during extraction.
But the weight of evidence and the high-profile nature of the case make it likely prosecutors will push hard for maximum penalties.
Additionally, more investigations are expected into how Groves traveled from Louisiana to Georgia, who aided him (financially, logistically, or through information), and whether any additional arrests will follow.
Broader Consequences & Lessons Learned
Corrections & Jail Security Reform
This escape exposed glaring vulnerabilities in jail infrastructure, staffing levels, and oversight. The breakout and extended evasion of Groves will likely fuel calls for reform across Louisiana’s correctional system.
Key areas under scrutiny include:
Facility maintenance and structural integrity
Surveillance systems, including cameras in blind spots
Guard staffing levels, shift rotation, and accountability
Insider threat mitigation and staff vetting
Procedures for inspection, emergency response, and lockdowns
Fugitive Tracking Strategy
Groves’ capture reinforces several principles of effective manhunting:
Persistence over time, not just intensity in early days
Intelligence and tip-driven leads matter — anonymous callers sometimes resolve cases
Coordination across jurisdictions is essential
Tactical patience beats rash entry, especially for violent fugitives in unknown terrain
Public Trust & Political Ramifications
For New Orleans, the jailbreak event undermined public confidence in the criminal justice system. The fact that an inmate with a violent record could remain free for months deepened skepticism about accountability in law enforcement and corrections.
As Sheriff Hutson faces re-election, the escape and Groves’ time at large will likely become a focal point of debates about security, leadership, and modernization.
Victims’ families and public watchers see Groves’ recapture as overdue justice, but also a reminder that systems failed early and repeatedly in preventing the escape and enabling months of evasion.
Closure, but Questions Remain
The capture of Derrick Groves does more than close a chapter — it raises stubborn questions about justice, safety, and institutional competence.
How far did the network assisting Groves go? Are there more hidden aides still under investigation?
Will staff accountability be sufficient, or will systemic reforms follow?
Can corrections oversight be strengthened to avoid repeat breakouts?
How will the legal case unfold — and what precedent might it set for escape prosecutions?
For now, a dangerous fugitive is back behind bars. The families and communities affected by his past crimes may draw some relief. Law enforcement can claim a victory, but that victory is tempered by recognition of the failures that allowed this saga to drag on.
