State and federal law enforcement officials are searching a rural area 30 miles southeast of the maximum security prison in Dannemora, New York, where two convicted killers escaped late Friday night, prompting a massive manhunt.
Residents in Willsboro, New York, reported seeing a couple of men walking in the town Monday night during a heavy rainstorm. They headed into farm fields, prompting the residents to call police, Willsboro Town Supervisor Shaun Gilliland said. Police have not confirmed that the men are David Sweat and Richard Matt, the escaped convicts.
Officers in full armor w binoculars peering north.... pic.twitter.com/ymwwvp7i52— Jesse McKinley (@jessemckinley) June 9, 2015
Police searched the area after what they described as a "credible tip." The New York Daily News reported that the men were "cornered," citing law enforcement officials, although police said the rumor was false.
Map by Syracuse.com.
"I cannot confirm what the information is in Willsboro, other than we are tracking a lead there," said New York State Trooper Jennifer Fleishman in an email to the Daily News.
Agents at this field several hrs. "There was a civilian sighting" of the escapees, I'm told, w/in these few sq. miles pic.twitter.com/2p1OWuuCxe— Geoff Redick (@Redick_TWCNews) June 9, 2015
The New York Department of Corrections, state police, U.S. Marshal's Office and Essex County Sheriff's Office are all involved in the search. A helicopter was also spotted overhead. Local reporter Vanessa Misciagna tweeted a series of photos that showed forest rangers and state police preparing to search a heavily wooded area for men deemed "suspicious."
Police presence on Middle Rd in Willsboro NY, deputies, forest rangers here, state troopers en route #prisonbreakny pic.twitter.com/pXYBY7h3Fv— Vanessa Misciagna (@VanessaWPTZ) June 9, 2015
More DOC officers have arrived on scene, a helicopter is now flying over head #nny #prisonbreakny pic.twitter.com/NX0mXlM8Mo— Vanessa Misciagna (@VanessaWPTZ) June 9, 2015
It is about 25 miles to the Canadian border, which one local says is somewhat blurry. "This is a hard place to find someone," he told the Daily News. "This is a very dense area. We are in the middle of the mountains. It's easy to walk into Canada from here. I've done it by mistake."
In a release, Major Charles E. Guess said that more than 440 corrections and law enforcement officers are involved in the search throughout the region as they chase down leads.
"Leads continue to be generated along the Clinton and Essex County border and residents will notice an increased police presence in this area," Guess said, adding that officials will be going "door to door" in their search.
About the prison break
The men escaped from the 3,000-inmate Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannnemora, close to the Canadian border over the weekend. The breakout immediately raised suspicions that the inmates had inside help in cutting through a steel wall, breaking through the bricks and crawling through a steam pipe. They eventually emerged through a manhole outside the prison grounds.
Among the questions: Did someone hear them cutting their way out? How did the inmates hide the hole, the dirt and dust from work that probably took days to accomplish? And did they have access to blueprints or other inside information to chart their path through the bowels of the prison?
Investigators questioned prison workers and outside contractors Monday to try to find out who may have supplied David Sweat and Richard Matt them with the power tools. Sgt. Guess said that "several employees, both uniform and civilian of the Clinton Correctional Facility have been interviewed in the investigation." He added that no arrests have been made.
Today we announced $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of escaped inmates: http://t.co/wBLO7mU9aq pic.twitter.com/iPQSR2MVyV— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) June 7, 2015
Sweat, 34, and Matt, 48, had stuffed their beds with clothes to fool guards making their rounds and left behind a taunting sticky note that read: "Have a nice day."
The prisoners surely had help, and the noise must have been heard, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.
But Cuomo said other inmates claimed they didn't see or hear anything. "They're all heavy sleepers," he said sardonically. And state Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell, chairman of the Correction Committee, said any inmate who heard drilling wouldn't dare report it.
"That will get you killed — that's the kind of environment it is," he said.
About the men
Richard Matt is a 48-year-old white male said to be 6-feet tall, 210 pounds, with black hair and hazel eyes. He has tattoos that says “Mexico Forever” and depict a heart on his chest and left shoulder, as well as a Marine Corps insignia on his right shoulder, according to the state police. David Sweat, 34, is also a white male, said to be 5’11” tall, 165 pounds, brown hair and green eyes with tattoos on his left bicep and his right fingers.
Both are considered to be a danger to the public, police say.