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New York prison escapee David Sweat still at large after Richard Matt shot dead New York prison escapee David Sweat still at large after Richard Matt shot dead
(about 5 hours later)
The shooting death of one escaped killer brought new energy to a weeks-long hunt for a second escaped murderer as helicopters, search dogs and hundreds of law enforcement officers converged on a wooded area 30 miles from the prison in upstate New York.The shooting death of one escaped killer brought new energy to a weeks-long hunt for a second escaped murderer as helicopters, search dogs and hundreds of law enforcement officers converged on a wooded area 30 miles from the prison in upstate New York.
“Of course our preference would always be to capture them alive,” New York state police superintendent Joseph D’Amico told a news conference as he announced late on Friday the killing hours earlier of Richard Matt, one of two escaped killers from an upstate maximum-security prison.“Of course our preference would always be to capture them alive,” New York state police superintendent Joseph D’Amico told a news conference as he announced late on Friday the killing hours earlier of Richard Matt, one of two escaped killers from an upstate maximum-security prison.
He credited a tip from the public, one of over 2,300 received so far, for crucial information leading to the deadly confrontation in Malone.He credited a tip from the public, one of over 2,300 received so far, for crucial information leading to the deadly confrontation in Malone.
D’Amico said Matt was shot by a border patrol agent when he failed to comply with commands in the woods near a cabin where a shot had been fired earlier in the day at a camping trailer. A 20-gauge shotgun was found on him, though he did not fire it at officers, he added.D’Amico said Matt was shot by a border patrol agent when he failed to comply with commands in the woods near a cabin where a shot had been fired earlier in the day at a camping trailer. A 20-gauge shotgun was found on him, though he did not fire it at officers, he added.
“They verbally challenged him, told him to put up his hands. And at that time, he was shot when he didn’t comply,” D’Amico said.“They verbally challenged him, told him to put up his hands. And at that time, he was shot when he didn’t comply,” D’Amico said.
A second convicted murderer, David Sweat, has not been spotted since he escaped, though evidence was found a week ago indicating he was with Matt in a cabin that was burglarized about three miles from any paved roadway, the superintendent said. Later, the man who prosecuted Matt’s murder case seven years ago said the inmate swore back then that if he escaped he would not be captured alive.
Louis Haremski was the special prosecutor in the 2008 case in which Matt was convicted of abducting, torturing and dismembering a businessman. He said trial security was especially tight because fellow inmates had told officers there were plans to break Matt out of jail.
Haremski said the snitches reported that Matt vowed he would “never be taken alive”, and added that he was not surprised to learn Matt had been killed.
Thd second convicted murderer, David Sweat, has not been spotted since he escaped, though evidence was found a week ago indicating he was with Matt in a cabin that was burglarized about three miles from any paved roadway, the superintendent said.
An intense search of the area led to a discovery on Friday morning of a camp where somebody apparently had laid down, leaving behind candy wrappers and other items, D’Amico said.An intense search of the area led to a discovery on Friday morning of a camp where somebody apparently had laid down, leaving behind candy wrappers and other items, D’Amico said.
The breakthrough came shortly before 2pm, when a person towing a camper heard a loud sound and thought a tire had blown. Finding the tires intact, the driver went another eight miles before looking at the trailer and finding a bullet hole.The breakthrough came shortly before 2pm, when a person towing a camper heard a loud sound and thought a tire had blown. Finding the tires intact, the driver went another eight miles before looking at the trailer and finding a bullet hole.
Authorities converged on the location where the sound was heard and discovered the smell of gunfire inside a cabin, where a weapon had been fired. D’Amico said there also was evidence someone recently had fled out the back door.Authorities converged on the location where the sound was heard and discovered the smell of gunfire inside a cabin, where a weapon had been fired. D’Amico said there also was evidence someone recently had fled out the back door.
“As we were doing the ground search in the area, there was movement detected by officers on the ground, what they believed to be coughs. So they knew that they were dealing with humans as opposed to wildlife,” he said.“As we were doing the ground search in the area, there was movement detected by officers on the ground, what they believed to be coughs. So they knew that they were dealing with humans as opposed to wildlife,” he said.
After Matt was killed, a 20-gauge shotgun that was believed to be missing from the cabin he broke into last weekend was recovered from his body, D’Amico said.After Matt was killed, a 20-gauge shotgun that was believed to be missing from the cabin he broke into last weekend was recovered from his body, D’Amico said.
“Based on that, we continued to search. We have a lot of people in the area. We have canines and we have a decent perimeter set up and we’re searching for Sweat at this time,” he said.“Based on that, we continued to search. We have a lot of people in the area. We have canines and we have a decent perimeter set up and we’re searching for Sweat at this time,” he said.
D’Amico said he had no information that Sweat was not with or near Matt so a heavy search of the area would go on.D’Amico said he had no information that Sweat was not with or near Matt so a heavy search of the area would go on.
The pair escaped from the Clinton Correctional Facility together early on 6 June. New York governor Andrew Cuomo called them “dangerous, dangerous men”.The pair escaped from the Clinton Correctional Facility together early on 6 June. New York governor Andrew Cuomo called them “dangerous, dangerous men”.
Police blocked off roads officers hunted for Sweat in an area around Titusville Mountain State Forest in Malone and spanning 22 square miles.Police blocked off roads officers hunted for Sweat in an area around Titusville Mountain State Forest in Malone and spanning 22 square miles.
Mitch Johnson said one of his best friends checked on his hunting cabin in Malone on Friday afternoon and called police after noticing the scent of grape-flavoured gin as soon as he stepped into his cabin and spotting the bottle that had gone untouched for years resting on a kitchen table.Mitch Johnson said one of his best friends checked on his hunting cabin in Malone on Friday afternoon and called police after noticing the scent of grape-flavoured gin as soon as he stepped into his cabin and spotting the bottle that had gone untouched for years resting on a kitchen table.
Johnson said his friend, correction officer Bob Willett, told him he summoned police about an hour before Matt was fatally shot and then heard a flurry of gun blasts.Johnson said his friend, correction officer Bob Willett, told him he summoned police about an hour before Matt was fatally shot and then heard a flurry of gun blasts.
Matt and Sweat used power tools to saw through a steel cell wall and several steel steam pipes, bashed a hole through a 2ft-thick brick wall, squirmed through pipes and emerged from a manhole outside the prison.Matt and Sweat used power tools to saw through a steel cell wall and several steel steam pipes, bashed a hole through a 2ft-thick brick wall, squirmed through pipes and emerged from a manhole outside the prison.
Sweat, 35, was serving a sentence of life without parole in the killing of a sheriff’s deputy in Broome County in 2002. Matt, 49, was serving 25 years to life for the killing and dismembering of his former boss. They were added to the US Marshals Service’s 15 Most Wanted fugitives list two weeks after getting away.Sweat, 35, was serving a sentence of life without parole in the killing of a sheriff’s deputy in Broome County in 2002. Matt, 49, was serving 25 years to life for the killing and dismembering of his former boss. They were added to the US Marshals Service’s 15 Most Wanted fugitives list two weeks after getting away.
A pair of prison workers has been charged in connection with the inmates’ escape.A pair of prison workers has been charged in connection with the inmates’ escape.
Prosecutors said Joyce Mitchell, a prison tailoring shop instructor who got close to the men while working with them, had agreed to be their getaway driver but backed out because she felt guilty for participating. Authorities also said Mitchell had discussed killing her husband, Lyle Mitchell, as part of the plot.Prosecutors said Joyce Mitchell, a prison tailoring shop instructor who got close to the men while working with them, had agreed to be their getaway driver but backed out because she felt guilty for participating. Authorities also said Mitchell had discussed killing her husband, Lyle Mitchell, as part of the plot.
Joyce Mitchell pleaded not guilty on 15 June to charges including felony promoting prison contraband, which authorities said included hacksaw blades and chisels.Joyce Mitchell pleaded not guilty on 15 June to charges including felony promoting prison contraband, which authorities said included hacksaw blades and chisels.
Authorities said the men had filled their beds in their adjacent cells with clothes to make it appear they were sleeping when guards made overnight rounds. On a cut steam pipe, the prisoners left a taunting note containing a crude caricature of an Asian face and the words:“Have a nice day.”Authorities said the men had filled their beds in their adjacent cells with clothes to make it appear they were sleeping when guards made overnight rounds. On a cut steam pipe, the prisoners left a taunting note containing a crude caricature of an Asian face and the words:“Have a nice day.”
On 24 June, authorities charged Clinton correction officer Gene Palmer with promoting prison contraband, tampering with physical evidence and official misconduct. Officials said he gave the two prisoners frozen hamburger meat Joyce Mitchell had used to hide the tools she smuggled to Sweat and Matt.On 24 June, authorities charged Clinton correction officer Gene Palmer with promoting prison contraband, tampering with physical evidence and official misconduct. Officials said he gave the two prisoners frozen hamburger meat Joyce Mitchell had used to hide the tools she smuggled to Sweat and Matt.
Palmer’s attorney said he had no knowledge that the meat contained hacksaw blades, a bit and a screwdriver.Palmer’s attorney said he had no knowledge that the meat contained hacksaw blades, a bit and a screwdriver.