Who Is Derrick Groves’ Girlfriend? Darriana Burton: Age, Career & More

Darriana Burton is the 28-year-old girlfriend of escaped New Orleans inmate Derrick Groves. She is a former Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office (OPSO) employee. She is charged with conspiracy to commit simple escape and her case is pending.

Officials identified Burton during the months-long probe into the May 2025 jail break. Investigators allege she helped coordinate communications before the escape. She has not been convicted of any escape-related offense.

Age, Career, and Role in the Case

Burton is 28. Public statements from state and local officials describe her as Groves’ on-again, off-again partner. Her name surfaced after investigators reviewed contacts tied to Groves during his incarceration.

Career background: Burton previously worked for OPSO at the Orleans Parish Justice Center. Local briefings indicate her tenure ended in 2023 after a separate contraband incident. Prosecutors later declined that matter following a diversion program, according to local coverage.

Authorities say Burton was not employed at the jail when the May 16, 2025 escape occurred. An arrest affidavit describes jail-issued tablet communications in the days before the break. Investigators claim those calls helped connect Groves with outside contacts.

Burton was arrested in June 2025. A judge set bond at $2.5 million. She remains entitled to the presumption of innocence while the case moves forward.

Darriana Burton, girlfriend of escaped inmate Derrick Groves, is accused of helping inmates after the Orleans Justice Center jailbreak. (Source: U.S. Marshals/Attorney General’s Office)

Key Dates After Groves’ Capture

Groves was captured in Atlanta on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 (U.S. Eastern Time). A CrimeStoppers tip led U.S. Marshals and Atlanta police to a home on Honeysuckle Lane. SWAT used gas and found Groves hiding in a basement crawl space.

The next morning, Groves appeared in Fulton County court and waived extradition. He said he wanted to return “where I’m from.” He is expected to be transported back to Louisiana custody.

Officials have signaled possible charges for anyone who harbored Groves during the manhunt. Burton’s alleged conduct is tied to the planning phase before the break. Her case is separate from any post-escape assistance probes.

What We Know and What Remains Unclear

Confirmed: Burton is 28, a former OPSO worker, and charged with conspiracy to commit simple escape. She was arrested in June 2025 and held on a $2.5 million bond. She has not entered a final plea or been convicted in the escape case.

Unconfirmed: Social media claims suggest a girlfriend “tip” led to Groves’ capture. Authorities credit a CrimeStoppers call but have not identified the caller. Treat those relationship-based tip claims as unverified unless officials confirm them.

Bottom line: Darriana Burton, 28, is Groves’ girlfriend and an ex-OPSO employee. Prosecutors allege she helped with pre-escape communications. Her legal case continues as Groves returns to Louisiana following his Atlanta capture.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: How old is Darriana Burton?

She is 28, according to officials and court coverage in June 2025.

Q2: What is her career background?

She previously worked at the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office. Her employment ended in 2023 and she was not on staff during the May 2025 escape.

Q3: What charge does she face?

One count of conspiracy to commit simple escape tied to the 2025 jail break.

Q4: What is her bond and legal status?

Bond is $2.5 million. The case is pending, and she is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Q5: Did she tip police about Groves’ location?

Officials cite a CrimeStoppers tip but have not identified the caller. No agency has confirmed that Burton made the call.