Following the recent jailbreak, authorities arrested a fourth person accused of helping violent criminals escape from a New Orleans jail, as five dangerous fugitives remain at large.
See the tweet below.
Connie Weeden, 59, faces felony charges for providing money and maintaining contact with one of the escaped inmates, highlighting the growing network of accomplices being uncovered in this massive security failure.
The jailbreak, which occurred last week, involved 10 inmates who escaped by removing a toilet and sink unit before crawling through a wall.
The prisoners then climbed a fence and crossed a freeway, with their absence going undiscovered for over seven hours.
Weeden allegedly provided financial assistance to escapee Jermaine Donald via a cellphone app and stayed in contact with him before and after the escape.
She now joins three other individuals who have been charged with helping the dangerous criminals evade justice – a maintenance worker who disabled plumbing and two women who provided transportation and supplies.
“You will be arrested and prosecuted if you assist these escapees in any way,” Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill warned.
Sterling Williams, a jail maintenance worker, was the first person arrested in connection with the escape.
Investigators said Williams aided the inmates by shutting off water and removing a toilet in their cell.
Two women, Cortnie Harris and Corvanntay Baptiste, were also arrested as accessories after the fact, with Harris accused of transporting fugitives and Baptiste allegedly providing food to one of the escaped inmates.
While five inmates have been recaptured, the remaining five fugitives include individuals facing serious charges such as second-degree murder and other violent crimes.
The escapees still at large are Derrick Groves, Leo Tate, Jermaine Donald, Lenton Vanburen, and Antoine Massey.
The courts are treating these accomplices with appropriate severity—bonds for the two women charged with aiding the escapees were set at $2.5 million and $1 million, respectively.
Weeden is currently being held at the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center and faces potential penalties of up to $500 in fines and/or up to five years in prison if convicted.
Meanwhile, authorities have issued a $20,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the remaining fugitives.
“Police have warned that they are armed and dangerous, and the public should be alert,” according to law enforcement officials handling the case.
In response to this catastrophic security failure, Republican Governor Jeff Landry has taken decisive action by issuing an executive order for a comprehensive multiagency response.
This includes mandating audits and reviews of the Orleans Parish Correctional Facility, relocating all inmates to state-run facilities, and directing the state’s Supreme Court to review the Orleans Criminal Court’s performance.
Ultimately, this jailbreak represents yet another example of the ongoing crime crisis plaguing major American cities.
The shocking security failures, combined with the network of accomplices willing to aid violent criminals, demonstrate how progressive policies that are soft on crime continue to endanger law-abiding citizens.
As authorities work to recapture the remaining fugitives, the focus must remain on ensuring that both the escapees and all who helped them face the full consequences of their actions.
Louisiana police arrest third alleged accomplice in Orleans Parish jailbreak https://t.co/jKCJC86AG4 pic.twitter.com/ctwFhsqiUx
— New York Post (@nypost) May 23, 2025
