New Orleans Dada talks about prison prisoners fleeing investigations
Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams talks about an investigation into how 10 inmates escaped New Orleans prisons.
A former New Orleans prison employee, believed to be Escape Derrick Groves’ girlfriend, was arrested and charged with allegedly assisting in promoting a famous escape, authorities said.
According to the Louisiana Attorney General Liz Maryll’s office, a former U.S. representative arrested 28-year-old Daliana Burton in New Orleans on June 9th. The Attorney General’s Office said Burton was safely taken into custody.
The Louisiana Bureau of Investigation and former US S agents were coordinated to arrest Burton and obtained an arrest warrant on May 27th. The Attorney General’s Office said Burton is being sought in connection with the escape of 10 inmates who fled the Orleans Parish Jail on May 16.
Authorities accused Burton of helping Groves escape. She faced a felony of conspiracy to commit a simple escape and was taken into custody at Plakemins Parish Jail, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
“Burton is considered to be the girlfriend of current Derrick Groves,” the Attorney General’s Office said in a statement. “We’ve made sure they’re in a repetitive, repetitive relationship for three years.”
According to the Attorney General’s Office, Burton was employed at the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office from August 2022 to March 2023. Burton was fired from her job in 2023 after being arrested for allegedly taking contraband to prison.
The charges were withdrawn by the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office in October 2024, the Attorney General’s Office said.
“We will continue to pursue all those who have helped and bet these criminals. We will find you, arrest you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law,” Maril said in a statement. “We would like to thank the former US s-service for carrying out this woman’s warrant. We arrest all Eators and Abetta. We will eventually bring Antoine Massey and Derrick Groves back to the prison they belong to.”
How did the prisoners escape?
Ten prisoners fled the parish prison in Orleans early in the morning of May 16th. Authorities previously said the group had fled through holes in the cell wall after stripping off the toilet and sink units.
By the end of the same day, three people were recaptured, and five more were caught a few weeks later. Two of them were found more than 300 miles away in Huntsville, Texas, and led authorities in high-speed pursuits before being arrested.
Antoine Massey, 32, and Groves, 27, are still two prisoners.
Massey has made national headlines in recent weeks after two videos posted on social media were shown to men claiming they were fugitives. State and local governments said they know the videos and are reviewing them.
Authorities previously announced awards of up to $20,000 per inmate for information leading to arrests. Authorities are currently offering $50,000 for tips leading to Massey and Grove’s arrest.
Groves was convicted in October of two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder in 2018 in connection with the shooting at Mardi Gras. Groves is also awaiting a sentence on manslaughter charges since October.
Orleans Parish records show that Massey is charged with domestic abuse, including strangulation and car theft. There was also a warrant for his arrest for his arrest for strangulation, including battery resulting from the November incident, a second-degree rape, a second-degree rape of domestic abuse, a second-degree rape and his arrest for domestic abuse, the parish sheriff’s office said.
People arrested for helping to escape prisoners in New Orleans
Authorities previously said they suspected that others helped prisoners escape from prison or that they helped them avoid capture. At least 16 people, including Burton, have been arrested for helping them escape.
On May 26, police announced the arrest of 21-year-old Diamond White. Rennica Vanbren, 28; Tissychanea Randolph, 27; Patricia Vanbren, 18; Angel McKay, 41; Louisiana State Police spokesman Sergeant Kate Stegal, said Renton Vanbren, Sr., 48.
White was arrested for supporting Massey, while others accused of helping the 26-year-old escape, Renton Vanbren Jr.
On May 23, Murrill announced that 23-year-old Trevon Williams has been charged with 10 counts, the principal of a simple escape. Williams had already been jailed in New Orleans Prison for unrelated accusations.
Also, on May 23, the New Orleans Police Department said it had arrested 28-year-old Emmitt Weber, 28, after a simple escape. Weber was one of four people questioned that investigators “examined surveillance footage and linked important points during the search.”
Stirling Williams, 33, a prison maintenance worker, was accused of being the principal of simple escape and misconduct. Murrill said Williams allowed water to be blocked to allow the cell phone and sink to be removed upon request from one of the prisoners.
Others arrested in connection with the prison escape include Casey Smith, 30. Connie Weeden, 59; Colny Harris, 32; Corvanntay Baptiste, 28. Authorities accused them of contacting and supporting prisoners.
According to Nola.com, the 21-year-old woman was arrested and charged with being the principal of escape and obstructing justice in connection with the incident. The news outlet also reported that Daishanae Massey (31) was booked as an accessory after the facts of Simple Escape. It was unclear whether Daishanae Massey and Antoine Massey were related.
Contributions: Jeanine Santucci and Michael Loria, USA Today