After weeks of drama, mystery, and social media taunts, authorities have finally captured one of the most talked-about fugitives from a recent jail escape in New Orleans.
The manhunt for 10 escaped inmates is nearly complete—only one remains at large.
Antoine Massey’s Run Comes to an End
Antoine Massey, 33, was tracked down and arrested on Friday in the Hollygrove neighborhood of New Orleans—just a few miles from the jail he fled on May 16.
His arrest came quietly. No drama, no chase. New Orleans police surrounded a rental property where he had been hiding, and he surrendered peacefully.
According to Deputy U.S. Marshal Brian Fair, the arrest was straightforward, thanks to a tip from the public.
A photo from the scene showed two officers heavily armed, leading a handcuffed Massey away.
The Taunting, the Videos, and the Pleas
Massey didn’t exactly keep a low profile during his time on the run.
He posted several Instagram videos, claiming he had been “let out” of jail and begging former President Donald Trump for a pardon.
He even showed off a document he claimed was proof of his innocence, saying his ex-girlfriend had recanted her accusations of domestic abuse.
But the drama didn’t end there.
Massey tried to appeal to high-profile figures like rapper Lil Wayne and NBA YoungBoy—both of whom, like him, had legal struggles in the past.
“They were trying to give me a life sentence for something I didn’t do,” he said in one of his videos.
A History of Escapes
This isn’t Massey’s first time pulling off a jailbreak.
He’s got a long history with law enforcement, including breaking out of a juvenile detention center back in 2007 after being locked up for armed robbery and aggravated assault.
Before this latest escape, he was in jail on charges related to car theft and alleged domestic abuse involving strangulation.
A Bold and Brazen Escape
The jail escape itself was straight out of a movie.
Ten inmates, including Massey, got out by removing a toilet in their cell and crawling through the plumbing system.
Before making their dash to freedom, they even left a mocking message on the wall: “Too easy.”
Investigators later discovered that a prison maintenance worker, Sterling Williams, may have helped them by turning off the water in the cell—allegedly under threat of violence.
Massey, however, denied this, saying in another Instagram post that Williams was lying and had not been coerced.
Who Helped on the Outside?
It wasn’t just inside help. Authorities say Massey had assistance outside the jail too.
His ex-girlfriend, Diamond White, was arrested for allegedly helping him stay hidden.
And in another twist, the grandmother of fellow escapee Jermaine Donald, 59-year-old Connie Weeden, is accused of aiding her grandson by staying in contact and even sending him money via a phone app.
More than a dozen people have been arrested in connection with helping the escapees, showing just how wide the network of assistance had become.
Who’s Still Out There?
With Massey now back behind bars, only one escapee—Derrick Groves—is still on the run.
Groves is considered extremely dangerous and was convicted in 2018 of a double homicide.
He managed to slip away during the group escape and hasn’t been seen since.
Who’s Back in Custody?
So far, the authorities have rounded up the following inmates:
- Jermaine Donald
- Corey Boyd, 20
- Kendall Myles, 21
- Gary Price, 21
- Dkenan Dennis, 24
- Robert Moody, 22
- Leo Tate, 32
- Lenton Vanburen Jr., 27
- Now, Antoine Massey, 33
Each arrest brings a bit more relief to a city that was shaken by the sheer boldness of the jailbreak.
What Happens Now?
With only one fugitive still out there, the focus now shifts to locating Groves and bringing him in safely.
Authorities are also continuing to investigate how the escape was planned, who was involved, and what systemic failures allowed it to happen in the first place.
As for Massey, he’s likely facing additional charges on top of the ones he was already dealing with.
Whether his claims of innocence will hold up in court remains to be seen—but for now, his days of mocking authorities from Instagram are over.