New Orleans Jail Worker Arrested for Allegedly Assisting Inmates Escape Through Wall Where Toilet Was Removed

Authorities in New Orleans have arrested a jail maintenance worker accused of helping 10 inmates escape from the Orleans Parish Justice Center in a carefully planned breakout that involved removing a toilet from a cell wall.

Sterling Williams, 33, was taken into custody Tuesday and is facing 10 counts of principal to simple escape and one count of malfeasance in office. Investigators allege Williams played a direct role in the inmates’ early morning escape by turning off the water to a toilet, making it easier for the prisoners to tear it from the wall and slip through a hidden passage.

Officials say the escape took place around 1 a.m. on Friday, with the breach discovered during a routine 8:30 a.m. headcount. While initial reports indicated 11 had escaped, one inmate was later found to have been moved to another unit.

According to investigators, the group of inmates exited through the wall behind the disabled toilet, accessed a loading dock, and used blankets to scale a barbed-wire perimeter fence before making their way toward nearby railroad tracks and the interstate. The escape triggered a multi-agency manhunt that has included the U.S. Marshals, Louisiana State Police, and New Orleans Police Department.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said Williams admitted during questioning that he shut off the water to the cell as instructed by one of the inmates. Rather than report the suspicious request, he complied—opening the door for the group’s escape.

“This kind of assistance doesn’t happen by accident,” said Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams. “Ten inmates don’t just dig through concrete and rebar without some level of inside help.”

Authorities believe some inmates began tampering with a locked cell door shortly after midnight before entering the escape cell. Three inmates were quickly recaptured, including one spotted in the French Quarter. A fourth, 21-year-old Gary C. Price, was arrested Monday. Six others remain at large, including four who face murder charges.

The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed that three other employees have been suspended as part of the ongoing investigation. Sheriff Susan Hutson called the escape “almost impossible” without inside help and emphasized that further arrests could follow.

“This investigation is far from over,” said Murrill. “We will uncover every detail, and anyone who played a role will be held accountable.”