The five-month search for escaped Louisiana inmate Derrick Groves came to a dramatic end Wednesday (October 8) when authorities found him hiding beneath a house in southwest Atlanta, bringing closure to one of the largest jail breaks in state history.
Groves, 28, was the final fugitive still at large after ten men escaped from the Orleans Parish Justice Center in May, slipping through a hole behind a toilet and vanishing into the night.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Brian Fair said Groves was tracked to a residence on Honeysuckle Lane, where a SWAT team surrounded the home after a multi-agency manhunt spanning several states, per Fox 5 Atlanta.
“They couldn’t find him at first,” Fair told reporters. “They had to deploy gas multiple times into the house and basement. Based on how long it took to get him out, it was clear he planned to hide for a while.”
When officers finally pulled Groves out of a crawl space beneath the house, he was shirtless, shoeless, and grinning, blowing a kiss as he was led away in handcuffs.
A cold-blooded killer back in custody
Groves’ recapture marks the end of a months-long search that began after his daring May 16 escape; an event officials have called “a historic failure of custodial security.”
Authorities later found a crudely drawn arrow inside the cell block pointing toward the escape tunnel, alongside a handwritten taunt that read: “To Easy LOL [sic].”
At the time of his breakout, Groves was serving a life sentence for second-degree murder, convicted in 2024 for opening fire during a Mardi Gras block party that left two people dead and several others wounded. He was also convicted of two counts of manslaughter in a separate case, The Hill reports.
Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams called him “a cold-blooded killer” and praised law enforcement for bringing him back into custody.
“His capture brings long-awaited calm to victims, their families, and the people of New Orleans,” Williams said, per Fox 8 Live. “We will pursue every available legal avenue to ensure he faces consequences for every crime he’s committed and every escape attempt he’s made.”
Family reaction and legal fallout
Back in Louisiana, Groves’ mother, Stephanie Groves, said she was “relieved” that her son’s time on the run was over. “I’m all messed up,” she said tearfully. “I’ve been hoping he’d surrender peacefully. Of course, he was going to get caught.”
Authorities say Groves is now being held at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta while awaiting extradition to Louisiana, a process that could take several weeks.
“He can fight extradition, but that’s rarely successful,” said legal analyst Joe Raspanti, who expects Groves will be transferred back to New Orleans soon.
Jailbreak scandal widens
In the wake of the Orleans Parish escape, 16 people have been charged for allegedly helping the fugitives evade capture; providing food, cash, transportation, or shelter during their months on the run.
Investigators also arrested a maintenance worker accused of shutting off water to the inmates’ cell toilets during the breakout, suggesting possible inside help.
All nine of the other escapees were captured within six weeks of the incident and have since pleaded not guilty to escape charges.
Officials promise accountability
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill commended federal and local authorities for their persistence, calling Groves’ capture “the result of relentless teamwork."
“Convicted murderer Derrick Groves has finally been recaptured in Atlanta after a brief standoff,” Murrill said. “He now faces new charges for his role in the escape, and I will ensure he is prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
She added (via Yahoo!): "This was a very dangerous individual. He is going to face jail time for a very, very long time."
As for Groves, the man who once mocked his jailers with a scribbled “Too Easy” message is now back behind bars; a fugitive no more, and once again facing justice for the trail of violence and chaos he left behind.