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Escaped Prisoners Reportedly Seen Near Lake Champlain
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 9, 2015
Modified Jun 9, 2015
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 9, 2015
Modified Jun 9, 2015
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The two convicted murderers who managed to escape from an upstate NY maximum security prison have apparently been tracked to Willsboro, NY.
According to TWC News, "Law enforcement agencies from the local, state and federal levels have descended on the Essex County town of Willsboro after a 'credible tip' from a civilian reported seeing" Richard Matt and David Sweat. The pair are reportedly in civilian clothes, not prison clothes, because they were in the "Honor Block" at Clinton Correctional in Dannemora, NY.
The Daily News reports, "Several busloads of heavily armed corrections officers and police officers from the area have arrived in Willsboro, N.Y., in search of Richard Matt and David Sweat, residents said. 'It was real quiet here ever since this morning; there are police everywhere now,' said Richard House, 62, of Willsboro."
UPDATE 5 p.m.: Here is incredible video of officers searching property in the area.
Sweat, 34, imprisoned for life for killing a sheriff's deputy in Broome County, and Matt, 48, serving a 25-year sentence for killing and dismembering an upstate businessman, managed to cut through their cell's steel walls, traverse the catwalks in the prison's infrastructure, cut through a steam pipe, and, finally, climb out through a manhole on the other side. The prison realized they were missing after a 5:30 a.m. Saturday bed check when guards realized the bodies in their beds were actually dummies made out of sweatshirts.
House told the News, "This is a hard place to find someone. This is a very dense area. We are in the middle of the mountains. It's easy to walk into Canada from here. I've done it by mistake." The Times Union points out, "Willsboro is approximately 50 miles south of Dannemora. The Essex Ferry to Vermont across Lake Champlain is nearby."
One hypothesis is that a female prison worker who worked in the tailor shop was befriended by Matt and she gave him tools. According to the Times Union, "Employees at state prisons are not required to pass through metal detectors when they enter the facilties, although bags and purses are supposed to be searched. There is a size limit on the bags that employees carry into the facilities, but it is rarely enforced, according to an official with the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision... Police investigators are examining whether the employee may have given Matt access to a cell phone, and also whether she or someone else abandoned a plan to pick the men up when they climbed out of a sewer hole overnight Friday, a block from the prison."
Matt, who is described by detectives as very charismatic, dangerous and "well-endowed," and Sweat, had special privileges on the Honor Block. A source told ABC News that "well-behaved inmates [have] certain privileges regarding laundry, cooking, phone use and recreation... Honor Block inmates can even work as assistants to plumbers and electricians."
The NY State Police say:
If anyone has any information about this case, please call: 1-866-GIVETIP.
Richard Matt, 48 years old, a white male, 6’ tall, 210 pounds, with black hair and hazel eyes. He has tattoos on back “Mexico Forever”, a heart on his chest and left shoulder, and a Marine Corps insignia on his right shoulder.
David Sweat, 34 years old, white male, 5’11” tall, 165 pounds, brown hair and green eyes. He has tattoos on his left bicep and his right fingers.
Both are considered to be a danger to the public. If located DO NOT approach them. Contact 911 immediately.
Tagged
clinton correctional
david sweat
prison break
richard matt
upstate ny
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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