Fugitive’s girlfriend charged with aiding breakout at New Orleans jail where she once worked
Jun 9, 2025, 3:19 PM
FILE - Law enforcement search for a fugitive that escaped a prison in New Orleans, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Chris Granger/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP, File)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
(Chris Granger/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP, File)
NEW ORLEANS (AP) 鈥� Authorities arrested a former New Orleans jail employee on Monday and accused her of aiding in the 10-inmate breakout at the facility last month, which included an escape by her boyfriend 鈥� a convicted murderer.
The former jail employee, Darriana Burton, 28, is one of at least 16 people arrested and accused of aiding the escape of the inmates on May 16. Authorities said only two remain at large: her boyfriend, Derrick Groves, and Antoine Massey, who is facing charges of rape, kidnapping and domestic battery.
According to police reports, Burton also allegedly 鈥減icked up鈥� and transported another fugitive, Lenton Vanburen, to a relative’s home during his escape.
Burton was fired from her job in 2023 after she was arrested on allegations of bringing a folding knife and a bag of Cheetos containing tobacco and marijuana into the jail. The charges were dropped in part due to her lack of criminal history, and she 鈥渟uccessfully completed鈥� a pretrial diversion program, the Orleans Parish District Attorney鈥檚 Office told The Associated Press.
鈥淚 categorically deny any involvement in introducing contraband into the jail or assisting in any escape,鈥� Burton said May 30 in a text message to The Associated Press. 鈥淭hese allegations are false and I intend to fully defend myself through the proper legal channels.鈥�
Agents with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service coordinated Burton’s arrest after obtaining a warrant on May 27. She was taken into custody in the Plaquemines Parish jail, authorities said.
Burton and Groves 鈥渨ere in an on-again, off-again relationship for three years,” dating back to the time when she was still working in the jail, authorities said.
鈥淲e will continue to pursue anyone and everyone who has aided and abetted these criminals. We will find you, arrest you, and prosecute you to the full extent of the law,” Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a statement. 鈥淲e will arrest all aiders and abettors, and we will eventually get Antoine Massey and Derrick Groves back to prison where they belong.鈥�
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Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
