Two convicted murderers who used power tools to escape Clinton Correctional Facility over the weekend before leaving a taunting note behind have already been compared to the “Shawshank Redemption.”
There are multiple theories about the exact details of the escape, but what we do know starts with Richard Matt and David Sweat being held in adjacent cells in the most secure wing of the prison facility.
They were reported as last seen at 10:30 p.m. Friday during a guard inspection and discovered missing at 5:30 a.m.
During that time the pair tricked guards by putting things in their bed to make it seem like a person was sleeping in the bunks. The tactic may have bought them time, as the guards check the cells every two hours in the night.
The pair allegedly used power tools to cut through the steel wall near their bed. They cut a small rectangular hole just big enough for a man to get through.
On the other side of the hole was a catwalk. They crawled to a brick wall, which they breached. The inmates then used tools to slice through a steel pipe. They climbed in and crawled more than a city block before finally reaching a manhole on the street.
At that point all they had to do was cut the chain and lock on the manhole cover and flee to freedom, having successfully circumvented the guards and the prison’s 30-foot walls.
At 5:30 a.m., guards alerted the New York State Police who began a massive manhunt involving search dogs and hundreds of officers.
The manhunt is ongoing and authorities have warned the public that these men are extremely dangerous. There is a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of each inmate.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the inmates had help from the outside, likely from a contractor doing construction on the prison or civilian employees. He seemed certain it was not a guard.
The New York Post reported that authorities believe someone may not have just provided the supplies but actually helped them make the cuts because the steel cuts looked like an experienced worker had done them. A female employee was questioned Sunday on suspicion of helping the pair. She has reportedly been removed from her post.
On a pipe the inmates cut open they left a yellow post-it note that read “Have A Nice Day!”
Both Pictures from REUTERS/New York Governor’s Press Office
The hole the inmates cut was just big enough for a man to fit through.
Photo: In the cell of one of escaped inmates, looking at the hole cut in the wall as part of escape pic.twitter.com/tGAtt8xHyb
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) June 6, 2015
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