Escaped Inmate ‘Prepared to Hide for the Long Haul’
FILE - This undated handout photo shows Derrick D. Groves, one of the inmates who escaped from a New Orleans jail on May 16, 2025. (Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office via AP, File)
Derrick Groves, the last of 10 New Orleans inmates who escaped five months ago, was found hiding in a crawl space of a Georgia home Wednesday, sources tell CBS News. Authorities say Groves appeared prepared to stay hidden for an extended period.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Brian Fair said Groves was located after a tip came in over the summer. Louisiana marshals passed the information to Georgia authorities, who obtained a search warrant. Initially, marshals saw no signs of life and believed the house was empty. Ultimately, the Atlanta Police Department SWAT team used gas canisters to clear the area, and a police canine discovered Groves in the basement crawl space, ABC News reports.
“We did have concerns he might not be in the house,” Fair said. “But he was found in a crawl space, which he had clearly prepared and reinforced. It looks like he was ready to hide for the long haul.”
No weapons were found with Groves, though authorities are continuing to search the property, which may be a rental. How Groves traveled from Louisiana to Georgia remains unclear. Orleans Parish District Attorney officials said Groves “obviously had some help,” and authorities are working to identify potential accomplices.
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