Photo: Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office
Authorities have increased the rewards for information leading to the capture of the two remaining escapees from the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans. The total reward now stands at $50,000 per fugitive, as announced by Crimestoppers GNO on Thursday (May 29) alongside local, state, and federal law enforcement officials.
The reward includes $20,000 from Crimestoppers, $20,000 from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and $10,000 from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The fugitives, Antoine Massey and Derrick Groves, have been on the run since escaping the jail on May 16. Eight of the ten escapees have already been recaptured.
Massey is wanted for rape, kidnapping, and attacking a woman who reported his whereabouts, while Groves is a convicted killer linked to four homicides in New Orleans. Both men are considered extremely dangerous, and officials believe they may have changed their appearance.
Law enforcement officials have received over 700 tips related to the escape, thanks to Crimestoppers' expanded hotline system. The manhunt has cost the City of New Orleans approximately $250,000 per week in overtime, affecting other violent crime investigations.
The search for Massey and Groves continues, with officials following strong leads but not disclosing if they believe the fugitives are still in New Orleans or Louisiana.