Lenton Vanburen, one of ten prisoners who escaped their facility, was reunited with law enforcement in Baton Rouge this Monday. The escapee was originally detained and awaiting a court hearing for a 2nd-degree murder charge.
On November 29, 2021, a homicide occurred in the 9700 block of Chef Menteur Highway. Following investigations into the incident, the NOPD took Lenton J. Vanburen into custody on December 16, 2021. The charges against him were serious, including parole violation, illegal possession of a firearm by an ex-convict, and illegal firearm transportation.
Vanburen’s arrest is further complicated as he will have to respond to additional allegations pertaining to his daring escape from prison. In addition, there is a mental competency examination scheduled for Vanburen on Thursday, May 29, in relation to his pending homicide charges, based on court documentation.
The authorities also apprehended five individuals who, it appears, helped Vanburen in his escape endeavour. The Louisiana State Police (LSP) recognized these individuals as Lenika Vanburen, 28; Tyshanea Randolph, 27; Patricia Vanburen, 18; Angel McKay, 41; and Lenton Vanburen Sr., 48. They are all charged with being accessories after the fact.
Upon their arrest, all five individuals were placed in the Plaquemines Parish Jail. These arrests total five out of ten fugitives who initiated the audacious escape. However, two of the escapees are still at large and remain free, five days after the escape incident.
This infamous jailbreak has incited considerable concern among the public, victims, and prosecutors. The jail’s leadership has undergone intense scrutiny, and comprehensive audits are now underway due to security failures and ineffective protocols that have come to light.
Bounties have been offered in an attempt to expedite the recapture of the remaining fugitives. Multiple organizations have put forth a combined sum of $20,000 for information that could lead to their arrest. The individual contributions are as follows: Crimestoppers GNO at $5,000, the ATF at $5,000, and the FBI leading with $10,000.
The details surrounding the escape are rather intriguing. In a statement from the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, the convicts managed to liberate themselves around 12:23 a.m. on the morning of Friday, May 16. The escapees used dysfunctional cell locks and breached a wall located behind a toilet to gain access to a means of escape.
From there, they accessed a supply dock and scaled a border wall. Once over the wall, they sprinted across the interstate to freedom. The discovery of the escape was delayed due to a civilian monitor who had momentarily stepped away for a meal.
A significant security lapse is now glaringly apparent, as three security cameras within the prison unit were discovered to be out of operation. A photograph obtained by the local Louisiana WWL showed evidence of their escape route – a hole in the wall where they had escaped from, complete with an audacious message scribbled above it: ‘To easy lol.’
Taking advantage of an unobserved exit, the inmates fled through a door at the supply dock and rapidly climbed over a wall and chain-link fence. The escapees then entered a local neighborhood, successfully crossing the I-10 interstate highway.
Upon their escape, quick action by authorities managed to apprehend eight of the ten fugitives. The arrested escapees are: Kendell Myles, 20; Robert Moody, 21; Dkenan Dennis, 24; Gary C. Price, 21; Corey Boyd, 19; Lenton Vanburen, 26; Leo Tate, 31; and Jermaine Donald, 42.
However, even with eight recaptured, two escapees remain elusive. Antoine Massey, 32, and Derrick Groves, 27, are still reputedly at large, putting a considerable strain on the efforts of law enforcement.
Authorities are reaching out to the public to assist them, urging everyone to stay alert and report any relevant information or tips. The FBI can be contacted by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or by accessing fbi.gov/neworleansfugitives. Crime Stoppers can be reached at 504-822-1111, while the LSP Fusion Center can be dialed at 225-925-4192.
However, amidst the operational tumult and public anxiety, officials remain confident that they will recapture the remaining two fugitives with the public’s assistance. The unforeseen escape has prompted a renewed emphasis on system audits and the necessary improvements to institutional security protocols. Amid controversy and concern, the commitment to justice remains unwavering.