How 13 people allegedly helped New Orleans’ escaped inmates, both before and after the brazen breakout

WDSU, WDSUNOPD, CNN

By Karina Tsui, CNN

(CNN) — As authorities in Louisiana continue their hunt for two of the 10 inmates who broke out of a New Orleans jail this month, 13 people have been charged with helping the escapees, both inside jail and once they were at large.

Officials said from the beginning the escape was strategically planned and the fugitives had help. The growing number of arrests provides new insight into just how elaborate and far-reaching the planned jailbreak may have been.

“As I promised when we initiated our investigation, we will hold absolutely everyone who contributed any role to the prison break in New Orleans accountable,” Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a Sunday statement, announcing the arrest of an alleged accomplice in the escape.

Investigators are combing through communications from the jail, including phone recordings, and believe other inmates or employees could face additional charges for assisting in the May 16 escape and a possible initial cover-up in the hours following the jailbreak, a source with direct knowledge of the investigation told CNN this weekend.

Authorities said Monday they arrested six more people, bringing the total to 13 individuals who allegedly helped the fugitives before and in the hours after their escape. Here’s what we know so far:

Accused of helping with the escape

• Trevon Williams, 23, is accused of helping with the escape. He was already being held in the same New Orleans jail on unrelated charges when investigators learned of his alleged involvement, authorities said. Williams faces 10 counts of principal to simple escape, but officials have not detailed how they believe he was involved in the jailbreak.
• Sterling Williams, 33, a maintenance worker at the jail, was arrested on suspicion of helping the escapees by turning off the water to the cell where they disconnected the plumbing to escape, Murrill said. (It was not immediately clear if Sterling Williams and Trevon Williams are related.) According to his arrest warrant affidavit, Sterling Williams told authorities that inmate Antoine Massey – one of the escapees still at large – threatened to shank him if he didn’t turn off the water. Williams’ attorney said he’s “fully convinced” of his client’s innocence.

Accused of helping after the escape

• Emmitt Weber, 28, faces a charge of accessory after the fact of simple escape, New Orleans police announced Friday.
• Connie Weeden, 59, is accused of sending cash via a cell phone app to escapee Jermaine Donald. Weeden was arrested in Slidell, roughly 30 miles northeast of New Orleans, Louisiana State Police said. She faces one felony count of accessory after the fact. If convicted, she could face up to five years in prison and a $500 fine.
• Corvanntay Baptiste, 38, was allegedly in contact with escapee Corey Boyd through social media and by phone. She also helped get Boyd food while he was in hiding, Louisiana State Police said. Baptiste has been charged with one count of accessory after the fact.
• Cortnie Harris, 32, is accused of being in contact with one of the escapees who remains missing. She also helped transport two missing fugitives to “multiple locations in New Orleans,” Louisiana State Police said. Harris is charged with one count of accessory after the fact.
• Casey Smith, 30, is accused of helping at least two escapees in the hours following the jailbreak, New Orleans police said. Officers located Smith at a home in the city’s Third District. Police said Smith admitted aiding the fugitives’ transport, along with Cortnie Harris. Smith was booked with accessory after the fact to simple escape.
• Diamond White, 21, is charged with principal to aggravated escape and obstruction of justice, Louisiana State Police said. White is accused of assisting Massey, who is still on the run.
• Lenika Vanburen, 28, is charged with accessory after the fact, Louisiana State Police said. She is accused of helping Lenton Vanburen, who has been captured. Police have not specified whether they are related.
• Tyshanea Randolph, 27, is charged with accessory after the fact, Louisiana State Police said. Randolph is accused of helping Lenton Vanburen.
• Patricia Vanburen, 18, is charged with accessory after the fact, Louisiana State Police said. She is accused of helping Lenton Vanburen. Police have not specified whether they are related.
• Angel McKay, 41, is charged with accessory after the fact, Louisiana State Police said. McKay is accused of helping Lenton Vanburen.
• Lenton Vanburen Sr., 48, is charged with accessory after the fact, Louisiana State Police said. He is accused of helping Lenton Vanburen. Police have not specified whether they are related.

The public defender’s office has been appointed to represent several of the suspects while they are in custody, according to Orleans Parish court records. CNN reached out to the public defender’s office for comment. Weeden was arrested in St. Tammany Parish. CNN is working to identify an attorney for her. CNN is also working to identify representation for White, Lenika Vanburen, Randolph, Patricia Vanburen, McKay and Lenton Vanburen Sr. All six were ultimately booked in the Plaquemines Parish jail, state police said.

“These arrests were the result of a multi-agency collaborative investigation with our local, state, and federal partners. The investigation continues and additional arrests may be forthcoming,” the Monday statement from state police said.

The inmates who’ve been captured are Lenton Vanburen, Leo Tate, Jermaine Donald, Kendell Myles, Robert Moody, Dkenan Dennis, Gary Price and Corey Boyd. Derrick Groves and Antoine Massey remain at large and are considered armed and dangerous.

Other inmates believed to have hidden escape hole, source says

Investigators believe other inmates provided materials used during the escape and helped to conceal it after it happened, a source with direct knowledge of the investigation told CNN.

The 10 inmates escaped through a hole in the wall behind a toilet in a handicapped cell they’d broken into. Other inmates are believed to have placed the toilet back on the wall after the jailbreak to conceal the hole, according to the source.

The escapees used electric hair trimmers with multiple clipper blades to help cut their way through the cell walls, the source said. The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office has not responded to CNN’s questions about whether inmates are allowed to have access to electric hair trimmers and barber equipment.

In addition, other inmates in the jail are also believed to have provided towels to the escapees that were used to help them scale the barbed wire fence surrounding the Orleans Parish Jail, the source said.

The director of the New Orleans Police Department Crime Lab visited the jail to begin a formal forensic processing of the scene, which was not requested by the sheriff’s office, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams said last week.

Orleans Parish sheriff, jail under scrutiny

The sweeping investigation into the jailbreak includes probes into the Orleans Justice Center, where the inmates were held, and into the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office that oversaw it.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry issued an executive order Wednesday “mandating an immediate and aggressive response across multiple state agencies” in response to the escape. The Orleans Justice Center is also undergoing an audit by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. The last audit was more than a decade ago.

Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson, who oversees the Orleans Justice Center, has come under increasing scrutiny. She was grilled during a tense city council meeting last week about whether the jail’s persistent problems stem from inadequate funding or poor management. Hutson told the council she takes “full accountability” for the “failure” but also pointed to the alleged involvement of jail staff.

“There were procedural failures. And missed notifications. But there were also intentional wrongdoings,” the sheriff said. “This was a coordinated effort aided by individuals inside our own agency who made the choice to break the law.”

Hours after the city council meeting, the sheriff announced she was suspending her reelection campaign, telling the public in a statement, “I cannot spend a moment putting politics over your needs.”

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CNN’s Ryan Young, Jason Morris, Matt Rehbein, Rebekah Riess, Holly Yan, Hanna Park, Michelle Krupa and Cindy Von Quednow contributed to this report.