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Fourth arrest made in New Orleans jailbreak as search for escaped inmates continues
Fourth arrest made in New Orleans jailbreak as search for escaped inmates continues
Fourth arrest made in New Orleans jailbreak as search for escaped inmates continues

Published on: 05/23/2025

Description

NEW ORLEANS (TNND) — A fourth person has been arrested in connection with the 10 inmates who escaped from a New Orleans jail on May 16 using a hole behind a toilet, according to police.

Connie Weeden, 59, of Slidell, was charged with one felony count of accessory after the fact and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center, Louisiana State Police said.

An initial investigation by police revealed Weeden was in contact by phone with escapee Jermaine Donald, who remains at large, and that she provided Donald with cash through a cell phone app.

Law enforcement personnel from multiple local, state, and federal agencies will continue to pursue every lead until the remaining fugitives are located," police said in a release. "Those who choose to assist or conceal these individuals are violating the law and will be held accountable. Harboring fugitives threatens the safety of our communities and will not be tolerated.

Five of the escaped inmates are still on the run.

Sterling Williams, a maintenance worker at the jail, was the first arrest in connection with the escaped inmates.

Williams, 38, admitted to agents that one of the escapees told him to turn the water off in the cell where the inmates escaped from or they would "shank him," according to investigators.

His attorney, Michael Kennedy, told The Associated Press that his client shut off the water to unclog a toilet.

“This was clearly all part of an orchestrated plan,” Kennedy said. Williams “was nothing more than the tool they used to turn off the water, which they knew would have to happen after clogging the toilet.”

He was charged with 10 counts of principal to simple escape and malfeasance in office. His bond amount was set at $1.1 million, which is $100,000 for each charge he is facing.

Courtnie Harris, 32, of New Orleans and Corvanntay Baptiste, 38, of Slidell, were also charged with accessory after the fact.

Harris is accused of contacting one of the inmates by phone before the jailbreak and later driving two of the escapees, who remain at large, to "multiple locations in New Orleans."

Baptiste was allegedly in contact with Corey Boyd, who was captured on Tuesday, through social media and by phone, and helped get him food while he was hiding in a home.

On Sunday, the FBI increased its reward amount from $5,000 to $10,000 per escapee, while the CrimeStoppers reward was increased from $2,000 to $5,000, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was offering $5,000.

The men range in age from 19 to 42 and face a variety of charges including aggravated assault, domestic abuse battery and murder.

Law enforcement didn't learn about the escape until more than seven hours after the men fled the facility at 1 a.m., authorities said.

News Source : https://wfxl.com/news/nation-world/fourth-arrest-made-in-new-orleans-jailbreak-orleans-parish-as-search-for-5-of-10-escaped-inmates-continues-connie-weeden-accessory-after-the-fact-harboring-fugitives-louisiana-state-police-fbi-atf-crimestoppers-reward

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