Lenton Vanburen found himself back in the grasp of law enforcement on a Monday in the city of Baton Rouge. He belonged to a group of ten inmates who had managed to escape from the confines of their correctional facility. Originally, Vanburen was being held behind bars as he was awaiting the proceedings of his trial linked to charges of second-degree murder.
The local police department in New Orleans apprehended the individual, Lenton J. Vanburen, on the date of December 16th, 2021. The arrest was a result of their ongoing inquiry into a murder case that transpired in the zone of the 9700 block of Chef Menteur Highway on November 29, 2021. The original charges against Vanburen also included violation of parole, unlawful possession of firearms by an individual having a suspended sentence, and the illegal transportation of a weapon.
Murril, a person of authority in the case, noted that Vanburen is likely to face more accusations in relation to his escape plan. In addition to these charges, a mental competency hearing related to the case of his homicide charges was scheduled for Vanburen. These proceedings were slated for Thursday, May 29 as indicated by court records.
Alongside Vanburen’s arrest, five other individuals faced the force of the law for providing assistance to him. The Louisiana State Police successfully identified these accomplices as: Lenika Vanburen, aged 28, Tyshanea Randolph, aged 27, Patricia Vanburen, aged 18, Angel McKay, aged 41, and Lenton Vanburen Sr., aged 48, all facing charges related to aiding and abetting.
These individuals, listed as accessories after the escape incident, found themselves in the custody of Plaquemines Parish Jail. Astonishingly, a number of five days after the daring escape, two fugitives are yet to be cornered.
The escape incident has sparked comprehensive inspections, a rising tide of terror among victims and prosecuting authorities, as well as heightened examination focussed on the leadership of the jail. Bounties were then set for information leading to the arrest of the remaining at-large convicts. Specifically, the rewards comprise of: $5,000 by Crimestoppers GNO, $5,000 by ATF, and $10,000 by the FBI, tallying to a total of $20,000.
How did the massive escape plan unfold? The narrative provided by the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office gives an insight on the night of Friday, May 16, around 12:23 a.m.
The inmates capitalized on faulty cell locks and managed to break through a wall located behind a toilet. This breach led them to a supply dock from where they scaled a perimeter wall and made their grand exit, darting across the interstate at haste.
A civilian monitor supposedly positioned in the unit had taken what proved to be an ill-timed food break. This unit’s security cameras were found to be out of operation at the time of the escape.
Adding insult to injury, a photograph obtained by the local WWL Louisiana depicted a hole in the wall accompanied by a derisive message scribbled over it: ‘Too easy lol.’ Subsequently, the inmates executed their stunt by flooding out through an exit at the loading dock, climbed over a wall and a fence, and then vanished into a neighborhood across the I-10.
At the time of their recapture, eight inmates, including Kendell Myles, aged 20, Robert Moody, aged 21, Dkenan Dennis, aged 24, Gary C. Price, aged 21, Corey Boyd, aged 19, Lenton Vanburen, aged 26, Leo Tate, aged 31, and Jermaine Donald, aged 42 were returned to the authorities.
Still, two inmates, identified as Antoine Massey, aged 32, and Derrick Groves, aged 27, remain elusive and are yet to be recaptured by the authorities.
Despite the recapture of most inmates, the authorities are keeping their efforts consistent and call upon the public to report any potential leads or tips regarding the case.
For those willing to help, the following lines of contact can be accessed: The Federal Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-CALL-FBI or fbi.gov/neworleansfugitives, Crime Stoppers at 504-822-1111, and the LSP Fusion Center at 225-925-4192.
As the manhunt persists, the public’s cooperation stands vital for the apprehension of the remaining fugitives at large.