Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

New York prison break: Prison employee allegedly backed out of being escape driver

The woman worked with the two escaped killers at Clinton Correctional Facility

Payton Guion
Wednesday 10 June 2015 16:20 BST
Comments
(Facebook)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The two convicted killers who escaped from a New York prison may have been expecting a female prison employee to be their getaway driver, but investigators say they believe that woman backed out at the last minute.

Joyce Mitchell instead went to the hospital because of panic attacks, a source close to the investigation told CNN. Ms Mitchell is one of several employees at Clinton Correctional Facility who have been questioned in the escape.

Richard Matt and David Sweat, both convicted killers, have dominated headlines since they broke out of the New York prison in a plot worthy of Andy Dufresne – the Shawshank Redemption character who escaped prison.

Ms Mitchell was responsible for assigning work at the prison’s tailor shop, and she worked with the two escaped convicts. A retired police official has suggested that Ms Mitchell may have been physically involved with Matt.

Authorities have launched a massive manhunt for the fugitives, ramping up efforts in Willsboro, New York after someone reported seeing two suspicious men walking in a rainstorm early Tuesday morning.

As of Wednesday morning, the two men remain on the lam, though authorities believe they still are on-foot.

Follow @PaytonGuion on Twitter.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in