The U.S. Marshals have arrested Darriana Burton, the girlfriend of fugitive Derrick Groves, in connection with a jailbreak at the Orleans Parish Prison in New Orleans. Burton, 28, was taken into custody on Monday (June 9) on charges of conspiracy to commit simple escape, according to the Louisiana Attorney General's Office. Groves and Antoine Massey remain at large following the escape.

The jailbreak occurred on May 16 when Groves, Massey, and eight other inmates escaped by exploiting a faulty cell door, removing a toilet, and scaling a barbed wire fence. The escape happened during the early morning hours when a lone guard had left to get food.

Authorities revealed that two days before the escape, Groves made a FaceTime call to Burton using a jail-issued iPad. During this call, Burton allegedly helped Groves communicate with an unidentified man, coordinating the use of unmonitored lines. This communication was described as "intentionally vague" and suggested Burton's involvement in the escape.

Burton, a former jail employee, had an on-again, off-again relationship with Groves for three years, dating back to her employment at the jail in 2022. She was fired in 2023 after being arrested and charged with bringing contraband into the jail and malfeasance in office, although these charges were later dismissed by the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office in 2024.

The search for Groves and Massey continues as authorities work to apprehend the remaining escapees.

Bill Handel