Derek Groves was arrested in Atlanta 5 months after escaping from NOLA prison

Derek Groves He was finally in custody after nearly five months on the run! He was one of 10 male inmates who crawled through a hole behind a toilet and escaped from a Louisiana prison on May 16. Deputy U.S. Marshal Brian Fair confirmed that Groves was arrested in Atlanta after an anonymous tip. He was the last inmate found in New Orleans, according to U.S. Marshals.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry He praised law enforcement for locating all 10 fugitives “They go back to where they belong: behind bars.” In a post on X.

Related to: Ninth New Orleans inmate Antoine Massey arrested after viral video and weeks on the run (Update)

More details on the arrest of Derek Groves

Sgt. Louisiana State Police spokeswoman Kate Stegall said police took Derek Groves into custody at a home after a brief standoff. The 28-year-old was facing a possible life sentence before escaping from prison. Groves was convicted of second-degree murder in 2024 for shooting at a family party on Mardi Gras Day. In the end, he killed two people and injured others. Groves had the most violent criminal record among the fugitives. He still faces life in prison without parole.

“He was hiding in a crawl space,” U.S. Marshal Brian Fair said. “It seemed like he was the only one in this house and he was hiding well.”

Law enforcement arrested Derek in a neighborhood west of Fort McPherson, a former U.S. Army base. For context, this base is now home to Tyler Perry Studios, one of the largest film production facilities in the country.

Watch the arrest videos here.

How did the police find the last escaped prisoner?

The authorities had previously offered a reward of $50,000 to anyone who provided information leading to his arrest. US Marshal Fair said cops came up with a lead on Derek Groves’ whereabouts with support from the anonymous tip program Crimestoppers. The tip reportedly originated in New Orleans, per Associated Press. According to Fair, law enforcement did not arrest anyone else, but resorted to using full force on Groves. The Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force and the Atlanta Police Department SWAT team teamed up to arrest him.

Derek Groves’ mother speaks about his arrest

prisoner’s mother, Stephanie GrovesShe spoke to The Associated Press after her son was recovered. She claims she learned about the update online.

“I’m a mess, just trying to talk to him,” she said. “I just watched it online, and I woke up to it online.”

Holding back tears, Stephanie Groves said she was concerned for her son’s safety and wanted him to surrender peacefully. She said she didn’t know why he went to Atlanta. In addition, the mother said she had not spoken to him since he escaped. She said that law enforcement authorities are following and monitoring her family.

“It was just chaos,” she said. “I’m glad it’s over.” He added: “Of course he would have been arrested.”

The prison break that shocked New Orleans happened like this…

like I mentioned previouslyDerek Groves and the nine other men opened a defective cell door inside a New Orleans prison and entered through a hatch behind a toilet. They then climbed over a barbed wire fence and fled under cover of darkness. It was one of the largest prison breaks in modern US history.

Prison staff did not notice the inmates’ absence until the morning headcount. By then, it had been hours since they had scrambled to freedom. They left a message at the crime scene. On the wall of the cell, the prisoners drew an arrow indicating the gap through which they crept, and above it was a message written on the walls: “It’s easy to laugh out loud.”

Since then, city and state officials have cited multiple security lapses at the jail, ranging from ineffective cell locks to inadequate staffing. For example, authorities believe the men escaped when the lone guard watching them went to get food.

However, authorities insist the men may have had inside help. Police have arrested a prison maintenance worker who allegedly helped inmates escape by shutting off the water to the toilet through which they escaped. The man denied intentionally helping them through his lawyer, who claimed he was flushing the toilet.

Another former prison employee, identified by authorities as Groves’ girlfriend, is accused of helping coordinate the escape.

At least 16 people, many of them friends and families of the fugitives, have been charged with aiding the fugitives before or after the prison break. They were arrested on felony charges. Court documents allege that these people provided them with food, money, transportation and shelter.

How were the others caught?

One of the fugitives allegedly hid in a vacant house that his friend had repainted. Police arrested him in Baton Rouge, more than 80 miles from New Orleans. Two others were arrested after a high-speed car chase in Walker County, Texas. However, most of the escapees were found within the city limits of Orleans Parish. Antoine MassyOne of the last fugitives to be arrested allegedly posted photos and videos on social media while on the run.

Many of the men were originally in a New Orleans prison, awaiting sentencing or trials, for alleged violent crimes, including murder. All 10 men are charged with simple escape in addition to the previous criminal charges that initially landed them in prison. The penalty for escape is between two and five years in prison.

The other nine men accused of escaping from the city prison pleaded not guilty to the charges in July. They appeared via video call from Louisiana State Prison. Derek Groves’ attorney was present at the arraignment but did not enter a plea on his behalf, the New Orleans Advocate/The Times-Picayune reported.

“Everyone has the right to due process,” said State’s Attorney Liz Morell. “But there is a video of these detainees being let out of prison in the middle of the night. They were not heading to court hearings.”

Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams praised the end of the investigation and said prosecutors “will pursue every legal avenue available” against Derek Groves.

Related to: way! New Orleans Mayor accused of trying to hide her relationship with her bodyguard

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Associated Press writers Jeff Martin, Jack Brock and Sarah Klein contributed to this report via the AP Newsroom.