Escaped New Orleans inmate Derrick Groves was tracked down in a cramped basement crawl house in southwest Atlanta Wednesday (October 8), ending an almost five-month seek for the final of 10 inmates who escaped from a New Orleans jail in May, in accordance with New Orleans Fox 8 Live.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Brian Fair stated the 28-year-old fugitive was found hiding in a crawl house beneath a house after officers deployed gasoline contained in the property a number of occasions. Groves was seen blowing a kiss in direction of the digicam as he filmed being led into custody, signaling defiance even in defeat.

Groves had been serving a life sentence for second-degree homicide following his 2024 conviction for a lethal taking pictures at a 2018 Mardi Gras block celebration that killed Jamar Robinson and Byron Jackson and injured a number of others.

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Groves additionally had two separate manslaughter convictions on his report. The Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office labeled him a “cold-blooded killer” with a violent legal historical past courting again to 2014.

The jailbreak occurred on May 16 when Groves and 9 different inmates slipped by way of a gap carved behind a bathroom contained in the Orleans Parish Justice Center.

They then scaled a wall whereas the guard assigned to their pod was reportedly away getting meals. Most of the escapees have been rounded up inside weeks, however Groves managed to evade seize for months.

The U.S. Marshal’s Office in New Orleans, the Southeast Regional Fugitive Taskforce and suggestions from Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans performed key roles in finding Groves.

During the manhunt, one other escapee, Antoine Massey drew consideration with a video plea posted to Instagram.

In the almost 10-minute clip, Massey referred to as on celebrities for assist, saying, “I’m asking please for help — YoungBoy, Meek Mills. People that been through the system that know it’s corrupt. Lil Wayne, Donald Trump. When I get back in custody, I’m asking y’all, please come help.”

He additionally claimed, “I didn’t break out, I was let out,” suggesting inner corruption. The video was later deleted, however it helped authorities observe him down in June.

Groves’ mom advised reporters she discovered of her son’s seize on-line and had not been in touch with him throughout his time on the run.

“I’m all messed up, I’m just trying to talk to him. I’m just seeing it on the internet, I woke up to it on the internet,” she stated. “It’s just been a mess, and I’m just glad it’s over with. Of course he was going to get caught.”

She stated she had urged him to show himself in and was anxious about his well-being. She additionally stated she didn’t know why he went to Atlanta.

Federal brokers imagine Groves had assist staying hidden. His ex-girlfriend, Darriana Burton, a former jail worker, was arrested and charged with aiding the escape.

She stays in custody on a $2.5 million bond. The jailbreak has intensified scrutiny on the Orleans Parish Justice Center’s safety protocols.

“Groves’ escape represented a serious breach of public safety and a historic failure of custodial security,” New Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams stated in a press release. “His capture brings long-awaited calm to victims, their families, the witnesses who testified, the assistant district attorneys who prosecuted him and the people of New Orleans who were rightly concerned that a convicted violent offender had escaped so easily and evaded justice for so long.”

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