Woman serving time for manslaughter escapes prison

Keana Barnes (Source: Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections)

ST. GABRIEL, LA (WAFB) - Authorities are searching for an inmate who escaped early Tuesday morning from the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women.

The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections identified the escapee as Keana Barnes, 33, who is serving a 25-year sentence for manslaughter.

She is from the New Orleans area. She should be considered armed and dangerous.

She is described as 5'4" and weighs 140 pounds. She has dark brown eyes and brown hair.

Officials said she slipped out around 1 a.m. They are offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to her capture.

They added an investigation is under way to determine how she got out of the prison. She has been at LCIW since 2004.

Many law enforcement agencies are looking for Barnes. DOC, prison staff, and K-9 search teams from Elayn Hunt Correctional Center are scouring the area.

St. Gabriel Police Chief Kevin Ambeau said his officers are also assisting.

The prison is located on LA 74 in St. Gabriel.

Anyone with information on the escapee's whereabouts should call 225-319-2300.

Just last week, a man serving a 65-year sentence escaped from the Elayn Hunt Correctional Center, which is located next to the women's prison.