Two prisoners used power tools to escape from the maximum security prison in Dannemora in northern New York over the weekend, spurring an unprecedented search and state bounty on the pair. As WAMC’s North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley reports, even top officials acknowledge it was a daring plot.
Convicted murderers Richard Matt and David Sweat were incarcerated in adjoining cells in the maximum security Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora. At about 5:30 Saturday morning guards discovered their escape. NYS Department of Corrections Acting Commissioner Anthony Annucci outlined what was found. “The search revealed that there was a hole cut out of the back of the cell through which these inmates escaped. They went on to a catwalk which is about six stories high. We estimate they climbed down and had power tools and were able to get out of this facility through tunnels, cutting their way at several spots. They were able to cut through a steam pipe and finally they ended up in the street in a manhole cover.”
More than 200 law enforcement officers immediately descended on the rural community, according to NYS Police Troop B Commander Major Charles Guess. “We have the Department of Correctional Services, New York State troopers, the FBI, New York State Forest Rangers, Clinton County Sheriff, Franklin County Sheriff, Clinton County District Attorney, a variety of tactical units like SWAT units, a number of canine to include bloodhounds, even three aerial support aircraft. Two state police helicopters and one from Homeland Security have been in the air since this event occurred. Although I can assure you that no stone will be left unturned I cannot comment on tactics, techniques and procedures that our investigators are currently employing.”
An ongoing question has been where and how prisoners Matt and Sweat obtained the power tools used in their escape. Annucci said Sunday that is a priority in the investigation. “We are completing our internal inventory of all of our tools, instrument by instrument. So far every one has been accounted for. That seems to lead to the possibility of a contractor having left it unsecured and perhaps not accounted for and perhaps obtained by these inmates. It’s speculation at this point. We will pursue every lead possible until we answer this question definitively.”
On MSNBC’s Morning Joe early Monday, Governor Cuomo, who retraced the escape route Saturday, expressed his belief that the duo had help. “We’re interviewing literally hundreds of contractors and civilian employees. Someone assisted them at least with equipment because you’re talking about cutting through steel. You’d need a minimum of hacksaw blades to get through that. They went through a brick wall and then cut into a steam pipe, cut another hole from inside the pipe to exit into another series of tunnels to get to a manhole cover. The manhole cover is chained and padlocked from the inside. So at a minimum they needed equipment that they shouldn’t have had access to.”
The day after the escape, Governor Cuomo and state officials upped the ante, announcing a bounty to capture the fugitives. “The state will offer a $100,000 reward for the apprehension or arrest of the two escapees. This is an unusual step for the state but given the severity of the situation we think that it is appropriate. I’ve spoken to the legislative leaders and they’re in agreement that this is an appropriate action for the state to take. So we will offer a $100,000 reward for information that leads to the apprehension or arrest of both the escapees; $50,000 for the apprehension or arrest of one of the two escapees.”
More than 150 leads are being followed. Sweat was convicted of killing a Broome County sheriff’s deputy. Matt was serving time after his conviction of murdering a former boss by beating and dismembering him.
The Plattsburgh Press Republican reported Monday morning that a female civilian employee at the prison is being questioned regarding the escape, but state police said they have been questioning both uniformed and civilian employees since the beginning of the investigation.
