Suspect arrested for aiding Louisiana jail escapee who remains at large

Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News on May 23, 2025

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Another suspect has been arrested in connection with a massive New Orleans jailbreak involving 10 inmates, who pulled off their daring escape earlier this week by slipping out a hole carved behind a prison toilet.

Connie Weeden is accused of helping the fugitives, specifically Jermaine Donald, one of five escapees who remained at large as of Friday morning. She’s facing one felony count of accessory after the fact and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center, Louisiana State Police said.

The group of inmates were discovered missing during a routine headcount at the Orleans Justice Center on May 16 around 8:30 a.m., though they actually escaped hours earlier, around 4 a.m. Around that time, the men managed to yank a sliding cell door off its track, while the lone guard tasked with watching their pod was away getting food, Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson has said.

From there, the group flooded inside the jail cell, then separated the toilet from the wall and made their escape through the resulting hole.

A subsequent investigation into the escape revealed that Weeden was in communication with Donald both before and after the escape. Authorities said she also transferred him money by way of a cell phone app. Her arrest marked the third civilian jailed connection with the case. Suspects Cortnie Harris and 38-year-old Corvanntay Baptiste were also arrested earlier this week and charged with felony counts of being accessories after the fact.

The pair are accused of providing support and transportation to other escapees, and they have both been booked at the Plaquemines Parish Detention Center, officials said.

“Law enforcement personnel from multiple local, state, and federal agencies will continue to pursue every lead until the remaining fugitives are located,” state police said. “Those who choose to assist or conceal these individuals are violating the law and will be held accountable. Harboring fugitives threatens the safety of our communities and will not be tolerated.”

Those inmates still on the run include Donald, Antoine Massey, Lenton Vanburen Jr., Derrick Groves and Leo O. Tate Sr. Donald is facing charges of second-degree murder, aggravated battery, possession of a firearm or weapon by a felon, and obstruction of justice.