After nearly five months on the run, Derrick Groves, the last remaining inmate who escaped from a Louisiana jail in May, has been apprehended in Atlanta, according to the U.S. Marshals. Groves, convicted of murder and facing a potential life sentence, was found hiding in a house, ending a multi-state manhunt that saw authorities offering a $50,000 reward for his capture.
Law enforcement, with the help of an anonymous tip program, located Groves in a crawl space of a residence in Atlanta. He was the final escapee to be recaptured out of the 10 men who broke free from the New Orleans jail by crawling through a hole behind a toilet and scaling a fence.
His capture in a neighborhood near Fort McPherson marked a significant milestone in the aftermath of the daring jailbreak, which authorities described as one of the largest in recent U.S. history. Groves’ mother expressed relief that her son was in custody and emphasized her desire for him to surrender peacefully.
The escapees’ flight from the New Orleans jail raised questions about security lapses and potential inside assistance, with multiple individuals accused of aiding the fugitives arrested on felony charges. Despite a widespread search effort involving hundreds of law enforcement officers, Groves was the final fugitive to be apprehended.