Manhunt Continues in Upstate New York Prison Break

Residents in the tiny town of Dannemora, New York, remain on edge as two violent prisoners, in a daring escape from the maximum security Clinton Correctional facility have managed to elude capture for a second consecutive day.

The two inmates Richard Matt, 34, and David Sweat, 43, shared adjoining cells at the state run, male only, prison. Both are convicted murderers serving life sentences. 

The elaborate escape, unprecedented at this facility, involved outside assistance in some way, although officials have yet to make the connection to another person and have also indicated the inmates may have simply stolen the necessary power tools needed to drill through the steel doors.

Like a scene from a movie, dozens of law enforcement officers from multiple agencies filled the streets securing the parameter, conducting door-to-door searches and vehicle checks, utilizing canines and infrared technology ensuring the 1700 jittery townspeople remain safe.

The two, considered a threat to public safety, drilled a hole in the steel wall at the back of their cells, walked onto a catwalk, and used the same power tools to drill through a maze of pipes and tunnels, and finally exiting through a manhole cover outside the prisons 30 foot chain-link walled towers and barbed wire fencing.  

Governor Andrew Cuomo, maintains the highest trust in the law enforcement teams in charge of finding and arresting the two.

After touring the escape route he stated the prison break "was extraordinary." He also said this was the first escape in the prisons history and remains confident the two will be apprehended and returned to face additional criminal charges in addition to the current life sentences each face.

All prison power tools have been accounted for which have led investigators to believe the two lifted the drills from a local construction team. The men made decoy dummies, stuffed with clothing, to fool guards who performed spot checks every two hours throughout the night. Both men were reported missing at a 5:30a.m. bed check.

Official admit there are many unanswered questions including how the prisoners gained the knowledge or had the know how to follow the tunnels to the correct or furthest point. It may have been simply counting steps in the yard to the fence and adding additional footage. The exactness of the operation is of high interest to prison, state and federal officials.

The facility is located 170miles north of Albany and 20 miles from the Canadian border. There is a high probability the men have already crossed the border into Canada.

The men are extremely dangerous and should not be approached. Any person who believes they have seen the men should contact local law enforcement.

Both men are career criminals. Mr. Sweat is 5 feet 11inches tall and weigh 165 lbs. He has brown hair and green eyes. He is pictured above. Sweat was convicted of murdering a police officer shooting him 22 times. He has tattoos on his left bicep and ring fingers.

Mr. Matt is 6 feet tall and weighs 210 lbs. He has black hair, hazel eyes and numerous tattoos which read "Mexico Forever," hearts and a Marine Corps insignia. Matt murdered and dismembered a man in Tonawanda, New York. He also stabbed to death an American tourist in Mexico where he was also sentenced to 20 years in prison.

People within the local communities are warned not to engage in any "kindness to strangers" actions until these men, both of whom are violent and extremely dangerous, are captured and arrested. Any sighting should be immediately reported.

 

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