It was obvious from the beginning that David Sweat and Richard Matt, the two escapees from Clinton Correctional Facility in New York, received some sort of outside help and it looks like that was confirmed today. Investigators are reporting that a woman named Joyce Mitchell provided the men with blades to aid them in their escape!
This prison break seems like a story straight out of Hollywood, similar to the historic prison break at Alcatraz, however, in 2015 it is much easier for officials to gather hard facts about what actually went down. The two convicted murderers cut their way out of their cells into a prison sewage system and eventually made their way outside through a manhole that was just outside prison walls.
Joyce Mitchell, a prison seamstress, allegedly provided the men with hacksaw blades, drill bits and eyeglasses that held a light on the lens. How was she able to get these things past various points of security? Sounds like it is more than just one person that is involved in this elaborate plan, if you ask me.
Mitchell is said to have known the two men by tailoring their clothes in the prison and at some point, they established a close relationship. Though it seems that authorities have figured out how they received the tools for the escape, Joyce Mitchell has not yet been arrested. Authorities have even investigated her phone records which indicate that she was in contact with people who knew one of the escapees. SHEESH, talk about putting your life and freedom on the line.
While the men are still at large, it is inevitable that in the coming days and perhaps even sooner, that Mitchell will have to face felony charges for being an accessory to the escape. If she helped them get that far along in the process, I would think officials would be watching her closely to make sure she too doesn’t attempt to run off and evade police.
A hectic situation to say the least and the area surrounding Clinton Correctional Facility is still on lockdown until further notice.
Source: CNN
