Fifth suspected New Orleans accomplice arrested for allegedly aiding inmates in jailbreak

A fifth civilian was arrested on Thursday for allegedly helping two of the 10 inmates who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center on May 16.

Casey Smith, 30, is accused of helping two fugitives immediately after the jailbreak by transporting them to multiple locations. 

According to a release from the New Orleans Police Department, she admitted to moving the escapees alongside Cortnie Harris, 31, who was arrested earlier this week.

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Smith's alleged involvement with the escapees was revealed amid an investigation conducted by the NOPD’s Special Operations Division Tactical II team, which uncovered evidence that linked Smith to the fugitives. 

Authorities say she helped transport at least two of the escapees to multiple locations in the hours following their breakout.

Officers located Smith at a residence in the city’s Third District, where she was taken in for questioning. During the interview, Smith admitted to aiding in the transport of the escapees alongside Harris, police said.

Smith was arrested and booked for accessory after the fact to simple escape.

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So far, five of the escapees have been found and arrested while five remain "unaccounted for," police said.

Louisiana State Police announced Thursday that 59-year-old Connie Weeden of Slidell, Louisiana, has been taken into custody on one felony count of being an accessory after the fact.

According to state police, Weeden was in contact with escapee Jermaine Donald by phone both before and after his jailbreak. She also provided him with cash via a cell phone app after his escape.

Two other women, Cortnie Harris and Corvanntay Baptiste, were arrested and charged on Wednesday for allegedly being accessories after the fact in assisting the jailbreak.

A maintenance worker, Sterling Williams, was arrested and charged on Tuesday for allegedly cutting a prison cell’s water supply so the inmates could remove a toilet and escape through a hole behind it.

He was charged with 10 counts of principal to simple escape and one count of malfeasance in office for allegedly turning off the water in the cell from which the escapees fled. He is being held on $1.1 million bond, $100,000 per count, in the Plaquemines Parish Jail. 

The following fugitives are still at large:

Authorities have reminded the public that these individuals are considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information relevant to this ongoing multi-agency investigation is encouraged to contact law enforcement. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by calling Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 1-877-903-STOP.