Who Is Antoine Massey? Fugitive From New Orleans Jail Escape Captured After Six Weeks on the Run
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| Orleans Parish jail inmate is captured after more than a month on the run |
Who Is Antoine Massey?
Antoine Massey, 33, has a long and violent criminal history:
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Current charges: rape, kidnapping, motor vehicle theft, domestic abuse by strangulation, and battery.
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Escape record: He has escaped four times since 2007, including from juvenile and adult facilities across Louisiana.
His most recent escape, however, is by far the most notorious—and the most embarrassing for New Orleans officials.
The Escape: May 16, 2025
At around 3:00 a.m. on May 16, ten inmates broke free from the Orleans Parish Justice Center in what law enforcement has called a “systemic failure.”
How It Happened:
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A faulty sliding door let inmates slip out of their cells.
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They removed a toilet and sink, exposing a hole in the wall.
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They crawled into an unsecured maintenance area.
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One wall was spray-painted “To Easy LoL.”
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They climbed a barbed-wire fence near a loading dock and fled into the night.
Not one guard noticed the breach until hours later. Surveillance footage revealed the escape route had no alarms, no motion detection, and minimal supervision.
Inside Help?
Authorities suspect the escape was not spontaneous—it was facilitated by jail insiders.
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A maintenance worker, who allegedly shut off water service to aid the escape, has been arrested.
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Several guards were suspended, and investigations into staff complicity are ongoing.
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At least 13 people have been arrested in connection with assisting the escapees.
The FBI and Department of Justice have both joined the inquiry.
Antoine Massey on the Run
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| Antoine Massey, 32, was arrested Friday at a home in New Orleans, according to the Louisiana State Police |
Massey didn’t go underground. In fact, he went online.
Days after the escape, Massey began uploading Instagram videos, claiming he hadn’t escaped at all. He said he was “let out” by the jail and framed as a fugitive.
“They opened the door, told me to go. I didn’t break nothing. I didn’t climb nothing,” he said in one now-viral post.
Authorities confirmed his identity by matching facial tattoos. They used metadata from his social media posts to track locations and launch raids, but Massey stayed one step ahead—until now.
The Capture: June 27, 2025
After six weeks on the run, Massey was arrested peacefully at a house in the Hollygrove neighborhood—less than two miles from the jail he escaped.
Key Details:
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Time of arrest: 3:30 p.m., Friday, June 27
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Location: 9400 block of Stroelitz Street
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Arresting agencies: U.S. Marshals, NOPD, Louisiana State Police
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No resistance was reported
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Massey was found with a woman who had allegedly aided his escape
That woman—his former girlfriend and a one-time jail employee—was also arrested.
Where Is Massey Now?
He is being held at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, a maximum-security prison reserved for the state's most dangerous criminals.
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| The arrest comes six weeks to the day since the escape of 10 inmates from the Orleans Justice Center jail |
What Charges Does He Face Now?
In addition to his previous charges, Massey now faces:
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Felony escape
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Conspiracy
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Possibly obstruction and aiding/abetting charges if he helped others remain at large
Prosecutors say they will pursue maximum sentencing in light of Massey’s repeated escapes and brazen behavior while on the run.
Public Reaction and Media Frenzy
The public and media reaction has been intense. Massey’s viral videos prompted outrage and ridicule:
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Critics blamed jail officials for gross negligence.
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Others expressed disbelief at how easily he could post online while being actively hunted.
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The phrase "To Easy LoL" has become a damning symbol of Orleans Parish’s security flaws.
One Fugitive Still Missing: Derrick Groves
While nine of the ten escapees have now been recaptured, one remains on the run: Derrick Groves, 27, convicted of double homicide.
Current Status:
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Believed to be armed and dangerous
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Last confirmed sighting was May 16
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$50,000 reward for information leading to his capture
The public is urged to call Crimestoppers (504-822-1111) with any tips.
Reform or Repeat? What Happens Next
In the wake of the escape, Orleans Parish Jail is under intense scrutiny.
Key Developments:
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A federal audit of jail security is underway.
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New protocols are being rolled out, including:
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24/7 video monitoring
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Enhanced staff training
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Removal of flawed plumbing infrastructure used in the escape
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The jail’s warden has been placed on leave, and management changes are expected.
Conclusion
The capture of Antoine Massey closes one chapter in a story that exposed deep cracks in Louisiana’s correctional system. But this saga is far from over. With a murderer still at large, an ongoing federal investigation, and public trust shattered, the pressure is now on city and state officials to deliver real reform—not just another press conference.
Until then, the words Massey left behind on the jail wall—“To Easy LoL”—serve as a haunting reminder of just how fragile public safety can be when the system fails.
