DERRICK GROVES CAUGHT AFTER 5-MONTH JAILBREAK RUN HEADED BACK TO N.O

After nearly five months on the run, Derrick Groves, the last remaining fugitive from a wild New Orleans jailbreak, has officially been caught — ending one of the most talked-about manhunts of 2025. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, Groves was arrested in Atlanta earlier this week, waived extradition, and is now on his way back to Louisiana to face new charges.

The Backstory: From Jailbreak to Cross-State Chase

It all started back in May, when Groves and nine other inmates managed to pull off a movie-style escape from the Orleans Parish Justice Center. Authorities say the group removed a toilet, crawled through the wall, and disappeared into the night — leaving behind a taunting message that read, “Too easy, LOL.”

Within days, nine of the ten were back behind bars. But Groves? He vanished — leaving officials and the internet buzzing about how one man could outsmart state and federal agencies for months.

Before his escape, Groves had already been serving time for a double murder linked to a 2022 Mardi Gras block-party shooting, according to AP News. Investigators later tied his getaway to possible help from the inside, including a former corrections officer and girlfriend, Darriana Burton, who was arrested in June for allegedly helping coordinate his escape.

The Capture: Atlanta SWAT Pulls Up

Groves’ time on the run ended in Southwest Atlanta, where police found him hiding in a crawl space of a home. According to People Magazine, a SWAT team used gas and a K-9 unit to flush him out after weeks of surveillance.

In court, Groves didn’t fight extradition — he told a Fulton County judge, “I want to return where I’m from,” per Fox 8 Live. That means Louisiana authorities have just days to bring him back to face additional charges.

What’s Next for Groves

Groves isn’t just heading back to finish his original life sentence — prosecutors are expected to hit him with aggravated escape and possibly other felony counts. The AP reports that he could face 5–10 extra years for the escape alone.

Meanwhile, Louisiana officials are under pressure to explain how ten people managed to walk out of a maximum-security facility with no one noticing. The Guardian reports that internal investigations are already underway, with potential firings and criminal charges for any staff who helped make the jailbreak possible.