Alleged Aid in Jailbreak: Arrest of Inmate's Girlfriend in New Orleans
New Orleans Jail Break: Ex-Sheriff's Employee Accused of Aiding Inmate Escape
Darriana Burton, a 28-year-old former employee of the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office, has been arrested for allegedly helping an inmate named Derrick Groves escape from the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans. Groves is one of two remaining fugitives following a jailbreak in May.
The Escape:Groves, along with nine other inmates, broke out of the Orleans Justice Center on May 16, 2025. Eight of them have since been captured, but Groves and another inmate, Antoine Massey, remain at large.
The Allegations Against Burton:Authorities suspect Burton of actively participating in the planning and logistics of Groves’ escape. She is accused of relaying escape-related information and coordinating communications between Groves and people outside the jail.
Evidence:According to official documents, two days before the jailbreak, Burton and Groves had a FaceTime video call via the facility's iPads. During this call, Burton allegedly held a secondary device in front of the camera, displaying an unknown man in a separate FaceTime call, suggesting coordination on the escape plans.
Authorities also claim that Burton and Groves exchanged messages and video calls through SmartCon, a messaging platform used by inmates, to plan the logistics of the escape, including timing, transportation, and outside assistance.
Darriana Burton and Derrick Groves' Relationship:Burton is said to have had an on-again, off-again romantic relationship with Groves over the past three years. Investigators believe Burton played a significant role in planning Groves’ escape, acting as a key link between him and outside contacts to facilitate his flight.
Background:The jailbreak has led to a broader investigation, with over a dozen people, including another inmate and a jail maintenance worker, being arrested for allegedly assisting the escapees. The maintenance worker is accused of shutting off water to a toilet, enabling the removal of the toilet during the escape.
Burton was employed at the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office from August 2022 until her termination in March 2023. She was arrested and charged for allegedly bringing contraband into the jail and "malfeasance in office," though the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office refused the charges.
The reward for the arrest of Groves and Massey has increased to $50,000, as authorities believe they are closing in on the fugitives. Groves was convicted last year of two counts of second-degree murder in a 2018 Mardi Gras Day shooting and faces a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter unrelated to the above case.
This development in the investigation showcases the involvement of insider relationships and coordinated outside support in organized prison escapes.
[1] Louisiana State Police[2] Louisiana Attorney General's Office[4] New Orleans Police Department
- The alleged actions of Darriana Burton, a former employee of the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office, in aiding Derrick Groves' escape, as evidenced by video calls and mobile messaging, highlight the role of insider relationships and outside support in organized prison escapes, raising concerns about justice and security in general-news, crime-and-justice, and politics.
- In the New Orleans Jail Break case, authorities are investigating the use of SmartCon, a messaging platform, by Darriana Burton and Derrick Groves, with allegations that they exchanged videos and messages to coordinate Groves' escape plans, emphasizing the importance of monitorizing such platforms in video surveillance for criminal activities and upholding justice.
