New Orleans prison escape shock twist as grandma now faces jail time

A grandmother is facing jail time after she helped one of the inmates who escaped a New Orleans . Connie Weeden, 59, of Sidell, was arrested and is facing a stint in jail after she allegedly assisted her grandson Jermaine Donald after he escaped the Orleans Justice Center, in Louisiana, on May 16.

Donald escaped from the prison alongside nine other inmates in a dramatic breakout through a toilet hole. Police said two inmates remain at large after they carved a hole behind a toilet and managed to crawl through it. Louisiana State Police alleged Weeden was in contact with the fugitive.

In a May 22 press release, investigators claimed the grandma was in contact with Donald before and after the prison break. Officers said they obtained evidence that Weeden spoke to Donald over the phone before the escape and provided assistance to him after he fled.

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Louisiana State Police said today they had made yet another capture of an escaped inmate. A post shared to X/ said: "Fugitive Caught. Pilots Activated. Blades Spinning. After 11 days on the run, Lenton Vanburen was captured yesterday in Baton Rouge. Following his arrest, Louisiana State Police Air Support transported Vanburen to a secure state correctional facility outside the area."

Police said the grandma gave cash to the fugitive via a mobile phone app, potentially funding him on the run. The inmates still at large are Derrick Groves, 28, and Antoine Massey, 33, Louisiana State Police officials said.

Those who have successfully been returned to prison are Donald, 43, Leo Tate, 32, Lenton Vanburen Jr, 27, Corey Boyd, 20, Kendall Myles, 21, Gary Price, 21, Dkenan Dennis, 24, and Robert Moody, 22. The development comes after a Louisiana jail employee was apprehended after he admitted to having helped the group of criminals escape.

He allegedly assisted them by turning off the water supply to the cell. Officials also believe sheriff employees might have assisted in the escape with three having been suspended.

Staff member Sterling Williams, 33, confessed one of the escapees "advised him to turn the water off in the cell" before they made their getaway. An affidavit obtained by said Williams claimed one of the prisoners who escaped threatened to "shank" him if he did not turn off the water.

Another of the inmates reportedly attempted to take his phone and tried to get him to bring a book with cash app information. Williams worked in maintenance at the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office and was apprehended on Monday.

Officials said by turning off the water, Williams had "wilfully and maliciously assisted with the escape." They added in the affidavit: "If the inmates removed the sink in the cell and disconnected the rest of the plumbing with the water still on, the plan to escape would not have been successful and potentially flooded the cell, drawing attention to their actions."

He has been booked into the Orleans Parish jail and has since been moved to another facility where he was charged with 10 counts of simple escape and malfeasance in office.