http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/06/07/2-convicted-murderers-escape-from-ny-maximum-security-prison/
2 killers used power tools in upstate New York prison break
Published June 07, 2015FoxNews.com
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The two convicted murderers who escaped a New York maximum security prison near the Canadian border had to have been overheard by someone while they were planning the “elaborate” plot, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday, as bloodhounds and helicopters were on the hunt for them.
Cuomo said Richard Matt, 48, and David Sweat, 34, staged "a really elaborate, sophisticated operation" Saturday that ended at a manhole cover blocks away from the prison.
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"They were heard, they had to be heard," Cuomo told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Sunday.
The men had filled their beds inside the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora with clothes to appear as though they were sleeping. They left behind a note — a yellow square of paper with a smiling, bucktoothed face, along with the words, "Have a nice day."
Roadblocks were set up in the area, which is about 20 miles from the Canadian border, and bloodhounds and helicopters were being used to track down the men, officials said.
New York state is offering a $100,000 reward for information that leads to the capture of the two convicted.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday the unusual step is "appropriate" for the situation.
The two men's adjoining cells were empty during a morning check, said Anthony Annucci, the acting state corrections commissioner.
"A search revealed that there was a hole cut out of the back of the cell through which these inmates escaped," Annucci said. "They went onto a catwalk which is about six stories high. We estimate they climbed down and had power tools and were able to get out to this facility through tunnels, cutting away at several spots."
Officials said it was the first escape from the maximum-security portion of the prison, which was built in 1865.
An employee at a Dunkin' Donuts across the street from the prison says the situation has been "nerve-wracking."
Beth Nichols says one employee even had a panic attack after being told about Saturday's prisoner breakout. The employee lives walking distance away on the same road, but authorities would not immediately allow her to enter her home. Her mother picked her up instead.
Nichols says two correction officers came to the shop carrying photo IDs of the escaped prisoners and said they were dangerous and shouldn't be approached if seen.
Authorities said there are many questions including how the men acquired the tools. Annuncci said prison authorities are checking to see if any power tools are missing from contractors at the prison.
Canadian broadcaster CTV News reported that officials are concerned the men may attempt to enter Canada through Ontario or Quebec, and safety alerts have been broadcast to police officers in the Greater Toronto Area.
Sweat is white, 5 feet 11 inches, with brown hair and green eyes and weighs 165 pounds, police said. He has tattoos on his left bicep and his right fingers.
Matt is white, 6 feet tall, with black hair and hazel eyes, according to police. He weighs 210 pounds and has tattoos including "Mexico Forever" on his back, a heart on his chest and left shoulder and a Marine Corps insignia on his right shoulder.
Sweat and another man fired 15 rounds into Deputy Kevin Tarsia in 2002 shortly after using a pickup truck to break into a Pennsylvania woman's house, stealing rifles and handguns, authorities have said.
And nearly a decade after the 1997 kidnapping, murder and dismemberment of his former boss, William Rickerson, in upstate New York, Matt was returned to the U.S. from Mexico where he had fled to and been arrested in the stabbing death of another American outside a bar in a robbery attempt. He was convicted in 2008 of Rickerson's death.
Tarsia’s brother, Steven, told The Associated Press Sunday he couldn't believe it when he found out Sweat and Matt broke out of the prison.
Steven Tarsia said the news has turned his world "upside-down all over again." He added that he thinks the inmates must have had help, but can't imagine why anyone would have helped them.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
2 killers used power tools in upstate New York prison break
Published June 07, 2015FoxNews.com
Facebook Twitter livefyre Email
Now Playing
Duggars struggle in Fox spotlight
Never autoplay videos
The two convicted murderers who escaped a New York maximum security prison near the Canadian border had to have been overheard by someone while they were planning the “elaborate” plot, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday, as bloodhounds and helicopters were on the hunt for them.
Cuomo said Richard Matt, 48, and David Sweat, 34, staged "a really elaborate, sophisticated operation" Saturday that ended at a manhole cover blocks away from the prison.
ADVERTISEMENT
"They were heard, they had to be heard," Cuomo told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Sunday.
The men had filled their beds inside the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora with clothes to appear as though they were sleeping. They left behind a note — a yellow square of paper with a smiling, bucktoothed face, along with the words, "Have a nice day."
Roadblocks were set up in the area, which is about 20 miles from the Canadian border, and bloodhounds and helicopters were being used to track down the men, officials said.
New York state is offering a $100,000 reward for information that leads to the capture of the two convicted.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday the unusual step is "appropriate" for the situation.
The two men's adjoining cells were empty during a morning check, said Anthony Annucci, the acting state corrections commissioner.
"A search revealed that there was a hole cut out of the back of the cell through which these inmates escaped," Annucci said. "They went onto a catwalk which is about six stories high. We estimate they climbed down and had power tools and were able to get out to this facility through tunnels, cutting away at several spots."
Officials said it was the first escape from the maximum-security portion of the prison, which was built in 1865.
An employee at a Dunkin' Donuts across the street from the prison says the situation has been "nerve-wracking."
Beth Nichols says one employee even had a panic attack after being told about Saturday's prisoner breakout. The employee lives walking distance away on the same road, but authorities would not immediately allow her to enter her home. Her mother picked her up instead.
Nichols says two correction officers came to the shop carrying photo IDs of the escaped prisoners and said they were dangerous and shouldn't be approached if seen.
Authorities said there are many questions including how the men acquired the tools. Annuncci said prison authorities are checking to see if any power tools are missing from contractors at the prison.
Canadian broadcaster CTV News reported that officials are concerned the men may attempt to enter Canada through Ontario or Quebec, and safety alerts have been broadcast to police officers in the Greater Toronto Area.
Sweat is white, 5 feet 11 inches, with brown hair and green eyes and weighs 165 pounds, police said. He has tattoos on his left bicep and his right fingers.
Matt is white, 6 feet tall, with black hair and hazel eyes, according to police. He weighs 210 pounds and has tattoos including "Mexico Forever" on his back, a heart on his chest and left shoulder and a Marine Corps insignia on his right shoulder.
Sweat and another man fired 15 rounds into Deputy Kevin Tarsia in 2002 shortly after using a pickup truck to break into a Pennsylvania woman's house, stealing rifles and handguns, authorities have said.
And nearly a decade after the 1997 kidnapping, murder and dismemberment of his former boss, William Rickerson, in upstate New York, Matt was returned to the U.S. from Mexico where he had fled to and been arrested in the stabbing death of another American outside a bar in a robbery attempt. He was convicted in 2008 of Rickerson's death.
Tarsia’s brother, Steven, told The Associated Press Sunday he couldn't believe it when he found out Sweat and Matt broke out of the prison.
Steven Tarsia said the news has turned his world "upside-down all over again." He added that he thinks the inmates must have had help, but can't imagine why anyone would have helped them.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
