Derrick Groves, the final fugitive from a dramatic mass escape from a New Orleans jail in May 2025, was apprehended in Atlanta after nearly five months at large. His capture marks the end of one of the most intense manhunts in recent history.
Groves and nine other inmates originally broke out of the Orleans Parish Justice Center by removing a toilet and crawling through a cut-out hole in a wall. Most escapees were recaptured within weeks, but Groves evaded law enforcement across state lines and remained the last one unaccounted for.
Authorities located him hiding in a crawl space inside a home in Atlanta. During his arrest, Groves waived his right to an extradition hearing, declaring he wished to return to Louisiana to face justice. Investigators discovered firearms and a substantial amount of marijuana at his hiding place, raising the possibility of aggravated escape charges, which carry tougher penalties.
Already serving a life sentence for a double murder during a 2018 Mardi Gras block party, Groves now faces additional legal consequences. Upon his return to Louisiana, he is expected to be held in the state’s maximum security facility.
The recapture comes with renewed scrutiny on the original jailbreak — how it was possible, whether there was collusion inside the system, and how a high-risk inmate eluded capture for so long. The case will reopen difficult questions about prison security, fugitive tracking, and accountability in high-profile criminal escapes.