Angola bed shortage sends 4 jail escape defendants back to Orleans lockup

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NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Four defendants tied to the May 2025 Orleans jail escape and manhunt have been returned to the Orleans Justice Center because of bed capacity shortages and court-related travel issues, officials said.

According to the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, Corey Boyd, Dkenan Dennis, Kendall Myles and Gary Price were returned Monday morning by the Louisiana Department of Corrections.

10 inmates escaped from a hole in the wall of a cell at Orleans Parish jail on Friday, May 16.(OPSO)

A view from outside of the cell where 10 inmates escaped Orleans jail on Friday, May 16 --... — A view from outside of the cell where 10 inmates escaped Orleans jail on Friday, May 16 -- before and after plumbing and equipment was removed, exposing a hole and a route to the outside.(OPSO)

OPSO said the inmates were screened and securely re-integrated into the jail’s special management population.

The sheriff’s office said DOC advised OPSO two weeks ago that the defendants would have to be returned because of bed capacity shortages and resource allocation issues tied to travel to and from Orleans Parish for court dates.

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Boyd, 19, is charged with second-degree murder, obstruction of justice and threatening a law enforcement officer.

Price, 21, is charged with attempted first-degree murder, domestic abuse and aggravated assault.

Dennis, 24, is charged in three separate incidents involving armed robbery, kidnapping and theft.

Myles, 20, previously escaped from the Bridge City Justice Center for Youth and is charged with attempted second-degree murder and carjacking of a man in New Orleans in 2022. He was re-booked for simple escape.

Dkenan Dennis, Gary Price, Corey Boyd and Kendall Myles were returned to the Orleans Justice... — Dkenan Dennis, Gary Price, Corey Boyd and Kendall Myles were returned to the Orleans Justice Center after officials cited bed shortages and court-related travel issues.(LSP)

The May 2025 Orleans Justice Center escape has remained under scrutiny for more than a year.

Former Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson was indicted in April on 30 felony counts tied to the jailbreak and its aftermath. Most of the charges allege Hutson failed to keep inmates behind bars, while others accuse her of trying to cover up crimes connected to the escape.

Her former chief financial officer, Bianka Brown, was also indicted and faces 20 similar counts.

Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson and Chief Bianka Brown turned themselves in early... — Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson and Chief Bianka Brown turned themselves in early Wednesday afternoon at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in accordance with a court order issued on behalf of Orleans Parish.(Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office)

The case has since faced delays. Hutson’s arraignment was postponed May 15 after Judge Leon Roche recused himself. Several judges have recused themselves, raising questions about whether the case could eventually be moved out of Orleans Parish.

Attorney General Liz Murrill has also pointed to safety, staffing and financial concerns raised in a legislative auditor’s report. The report said the jail’s inmate population increased by nearly 50 percent from 2022 to 2025, while staffing to supervise those inmates increased only 7 percent. The report also found cell block security patrols were skipped about 70 percent of the time during the week of the jailbreak.

Auditors also outlined potential financial and constitutional violations, including more than 1,300 allegations of potential payroll fraud and more than $1 million in payments for cell lock replacements without public bids.

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