Convicted Murderers Drilled Through Walls to Escape Jail Near Canadian Border

Two convicted murderers in the United States are on the loose after their elaborate plan to escape a prison south of Quebec.

The hole cut through the steel wall of the jail cell. (Photo Credit: Governor Andrew Cuomo Flickr)

(Photo Credit: Governor Andrew Cuomo Flickr)

The two inmates escaped from Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, and were unaccounted for on the morning of Saturday, June 6^th. A hole was cut out of the back of one of their conjoining cells and into a six-storey high catwalk. Officials believe the inmates climbed down and used power tools to cut away through both steel walls and steel pipes. A series of tunnels eventually connected to a manhole on the street.

A note was left on one of the pipes the inmates cut open. (Photo Credit: Governor Andrew Cuomo Flickr)

Investigators did not know on Saturday how the inmates had gotten the power tools, as an internal inventory showed that none were missing. They said they were following leads on outside contractors who come in and do work.

The Clinton Correctional Facility is south of Quebec, about 30 kilometres south of the Canada–U.S. border.

Both men are considered a danger to the public and are convicted murderers. David Sweat is a 34-year-old white male with brown hair and green eyes. He’s 5’11” and 165 pounds with tattoos on his left bicep and his right fingers. Sweat is serving a life sentence without parole for the first degree murder of a Broome County Sheriff’s Deputy in 2002.

David Sweat (left) and Richard Matt (right). (Photo Credit: New York State Police Handout)

Richard Matt, a 48-year-old white male with black hair and hazel eyes, is 6’ tall and 210 pounds. Matt has tattoos on his back saying “Mexico Forever”, a heart on his chest and left shoulder, and a marine corps insignia on his right shoulder. He’s serving 25 years to life for three counts of murder, three counts of kidnapping, and two counts of robbery after. Matt was convicted of kidnapping a male victim and causing his death by beating him in 1997.

Over 200 law enforcement officers were in the area, with tactical units, K-9 units, helicopters, and other aircraft.

This weekend’s escape marked the first time in the Clinton Correctional Facility’s history that someone has escaped from the maximum security portion. The prison opened in 1865.

(Photo Credit: Governor Andrew Cuomo Flickr)