A massivemanhunt that began for 10 escapeeswas down to two on Tuesday while authorities turned their attention toward people aiding the inmates who literallybroke out of a New Orleans jail11 days ago. Louisiana State Police announced Monday that three more escapees had been nabbed in Louisiana and Texas and pledged to "pursue every lead" until the two who remain at-large are once again in custody. Police also announced the arrests of six people accused of aiding the escapees. "Individuals who choose to assist, conceal or harbor these fugitives are violating the law and will be arrested, regardless of the level of assistance given or where they are found," Louisiana State Police Sgt. Kate Stegall wrote in a social media post. "Harboring fugitives threatens the safety of our communities and will not be tolerated." The latest inmates to be recaptured were Lenton Vanburen, 26, who was taken into custody in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, by local police there; and Leo Tate, 31, and Jermaine Donald, 42, arrested in Walker County, Texas, by the Texas Department of Public Safety. All three are expected to face additional charges related to the escape, officials said. "This is a clear example of how effective collaboration and open communication between agencies can lead to successful outcomes!" the social media post said. Well-known prison breaks:Here are some fugitives who were never caught At least 13 people have been arrested, including an inmate who did not flee, for collaborating with the escapees. Six arrests were announced Monday, including Diamond White, 21, on charges that include principal to aggravated escape and obstruction of justice for helping Antoine Massey, according to state police spokesperson Sergeant Kate Stegall. Massey remains at-large. Others announced Monday included Lenika Vanburen, 28, Tyshanea Randolph, 27, Patricia Vanburen, 18, Angel McKay, 41, and Lenton Vanburen Sr., 48. All face charges of accessory after the fact, accused of aiding Vanburen. All were booked into the Plaquemines Parish jail, Stegall said. Trevon Williams, an inmate who did not escape, was charged with 10 counts of being a principal to simple escape, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced May 23. The same day, the New Orleans Police Department said it arrested Emmitt Weber on a charge of accessory after the fact of simple escape. Weber was one of four people questioned after investigators "combed through surveillance footage, connecting crucial dots in the search," the police department added. "As I promised when we initiated our investigation, we will hold absolutely everyone who contributed any role to the prison break in New Orleans accountable," Murrill said. Others arrested in connection with the prison escape include jail maintenance worker Sterling Williams, 33, Casey Smith, Connie Weeden, Cortnie Harris and Corvanntay Baptiste. Smith, 30, Weeden, 59, Harris, 32, and Baptiste, 28, all women, are accused of being in contact with and helping the escapees. Sterling Williams is charged with being a principal to simple escape and malfeasance in office. Murrill said Williams admitted that he complied with a demand from one of the inmates to shut off the water to a cell, allowing escapees to rip out a toilet and sink unit and climb through the hole in the wall that was created. Michael Kennedy, a lawyer for Sterling Williams, told USA TODAY that his client argues he didn't know the men were planning to escape and shut the water off because an inmate had clogged a toilet. 3 more inmates caught:2 New Orleans escapees remain at large Vanburen, who had been in custody on a second-degree murder charge in connection with a 2021 fatal shooting, was caught with the help of a tip from the public, police in Baton Rouge said. He was apprehended while sitting on a bench near a department store in the city, about 80 miles northeast of New Orleans. Donald and Tate were arrested the same day in Huntsville, Texas, after leading law enforcement officers from several agencies on a high-speed chase, Huntsville police said in a social media post. Huntsville is more than 350 east of New Orleans. Donald, who before the escape was being held on charges that included second degree murder, now faces addtional charges of escape and resisting an officer, Huntsville police said. Tate, who was being held on burglary and obstruction charges, now must also face aggravated escape and escape from custody charges. The search is continuing for escapees Massey, 32, and Derrick Groves, 27. Massey is charged with domestic abuse involving strangulation and theft of a motor vehicle, according to Orleans Parish records. There also is a warrant for his arrest in St. Tammany Parish for second-degree rape, second-degree kidnapping, domestic abuse involving strangulation and violation of a protective order involving battery stemming from an incident in November, the parish's sheriff's office told USA TODAY. Groves was convicted of two charges of second-degree murder and two charges of attempted second-degree murder in October in connection with a shooting during Mardi Gras in 2018. Groves also has been awaiting sentencing on a manslaughter charge since October. The 10 inmatesfled the Orelans Parish jailMay 16. Authorities said the group pulled open faulty sliding cell doors, tore out a bathroom to create a hole in the jail and then climbed a wall to escape. Three were recaptured by the end of the same day. Two more were caught a week later. Authorities announced awards of up to $20,000 per inmate for information leading to the arrests of the escapees. Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams told USA TODAY the escape appeared to be an "inside job" and that he worried for the safety of his staff. Jason Williams said he is especially worried for two colleagues who tried the second-degree murder case against Groves, one of two remaining at-large escapees. The two colleagues left the state for their safety, according to Jason Williams. He would not say whether his office had received any credible threats."They're young. They've got families," Jason Williams said. "They don't deserve to be in a situation." Some victims and witnesses in the cases against the escapees also "wanted to be relocated," Jason Williams said. He worries the dangers following the escape will chill people's willingness to testify and serve on juries in other cases. Contributing: Jeanine Santucci and Chris Kenning, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:2 New Orleans prisoners still on the run after massive jailbreak
