In a startling turn of events following a dramatic jailbreak in New Orleans, two women — Corvanntay Baptiste, 38, of Slidell, and Cortnie Harris, 32, of New Orleans — have been arrested and charged for allegedly helping inmates stay on the run. According to Louisiana State Police, both women played critical roles in aiding the escapees, making them accomplices in one of the most brazen jailbreaks the region has seen in years.
Aiding and Abetting on the Run
Authorities say Cortnie Harris was actively involved in the immediate aftermath of the escape, providing transportation and maintaining contact with the inmates before and after their break for freedom. Harris is believed to have driven two of the fugitives around New Orleans, helping them evade capture and possibly strategizing their next moves. Her actions, police note, significantly hindered early efforts to apprehend the escapees and may have contributed to some of them remaining at large.
On the other hand, Corvanntay Baptiste is accused of directly aiding Corey Boyd, one of the 19-year-old escapees now back in custody. Investigators revealed that Baptiste was in communication with Boyd during his time on the run and even brought him food while he was in hiding — a move that underscored the level of support some of the inmates received outside prison walls.
Arrest and Possible Penalties
Both women were arrested early Wednesday and booked into Plaquemines Parish Jail. They now face serious legal consequences for their alleged roles in helping the escapees. If found guilty, each woman could face a $500 fine, up to five years in prison, or both. Their arrests mark a growing list of individuals implicated in the escape and the ensuing manhunt.
The Jailbreak: A Bold and Calculated Operation
The escape itself occurred in the early hours of May 16, around 1 a.m., when ten inmates managed to break free from the New Orleans jail. In a scheme that sounds like something out of a movie, the inmates reportedly climbed through a hole they had created behind a toilet, which they had pulled off the wall inside their housing pod.
Authorities believe the escape was made possible through inside help. In a separate but related arrest, Sterling Williams, a 33-year-old maintenance worker at the jail, was taken into custody for allegedly cutting off water to the pod. This crucial act allowed the inmates to remove the toilet without flooding the area — a move investigators believe was essential to the plan’s success.
Manhunt and Current Status
As of Wednesday afternoon, five of the ten escapees had been captured:
- Corey Boyd
- Kendell Myles
- Robert Moody
- Gary Price
- Dkenan Dennis
Efforts continue to locate and apprehend the remaining five inmates:
- Antoine Massey
- Lenton Vanburen
- Jermaine Donald
- Leo Tate
- Derrick Groves
The escape has prompted an intense manhunt across multiple parishes, with local, state, and federal agencies working together to bring the fugitives back into custody. Officials have urged the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity that could lead to the capture of the remaining escapees.
A Growing Investigation
With the arrests of Baptiste, Harris, and Williams, the investigation has expanded beyond the inmates to a broader network of alleged enablers. Louisiana State Police continue to examine how such a coordinated escape was able to occur — and who else might have been involved.
The daring jailbreak and subsequent arrests have raised questions about security protocols at the New Orleans jail, and many expect policy changes and internal reviews to follow. For now, the focus remains squarely on tracking down the remaining fugitives and holding accountable those who aided their flight from justice.