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New York prison break manhunt follows 'credible sighting' 350 miles away New York prison break manhunt follows 'credible sighting' 350 miles away
(about 7 hours later)
Related: New York prison break - how two murderers escapedRelated: New York prison break - how two murderers escaped
An intense manhunt for two escaped convicts resumed at daybreak on Sunday around the tiny town of Friendship in south-western New York state, following what police described as a “credible sighting” of men resembling the fugitives. An intense manhunt for two escaped convicts continued on Sunday around the tiny town of Friendship in south-western New York state, following what police described as a “credible sighting” of men resembling the fugitives.
Richard Matt and David Sweat escaped from Clinton correctional facility in upstate New York two weeks ago, cutting their way through pipes to emerge through a manhole in a Dannemora street. A massive manhunt failed to find them despite grid searches of dense forests and vacant buildings and cabins by up to 800 investigators and rangers.Richard Matt and David Sweat escaped from Clinton correctional facility in upstate New York two weeks ago, cutting their way through pipes to emerge through a manhole in a Dannemora street. A massive manhunt failed to find them despite grid searches of dense forests and vacant buildings and cabins by up to 800 investigators and rangers.
Authorities scrambled on Saturday afternoon and evening to get officers to the remote, rural area 350 miles south-west of the prison in Dannemora. Authorities scrambled on Saturday afternoon and evening to get officers to the remote, rural area 350 miles south-west of the prison.
As darkness fell on Saturday night, law enforcement personnel were forced to wind down their search of woods, culverts, railway tracks, roads, farmland and hamlets. Officers were still traveling to the area. Helicopters with infra-red cameras that detect body heat continued the search into the night. At a Sunday afternoon press conference, Major Michael Cerretto of New York state police confirmed that the call which came in from a “witness” on Saturday was deemed credible because it “fit the description” of the two fugitives.
By Sunday morning, the FBI, forest rangers, local and state police and corrections officers from a number of prisons in the region were striving to establish a secure perimeter of personnel and, they hoped, close in on Matt and Sweat. Officers questioned the member of the public, Ceretto said, and began searching in the area of Friendship, New York, near the Pennsylvania border. The new search area prompted fierce media interest on Saturday evening but by Sunday afternoon there was still no confirmed sighting of the convicts and they were still at large.
Authorities warned that they had not yet had a confirmed sighting, although they have put residents in the area on high alert after a member of the public reported on Saturday afternoon seeing two men resembling Matt, 48, and Sweat, 35. As darkness fell on Saturday, law enforcement personnel were forced to wind down their search of woods, culverts, railway tracks, roads, farmland and hamlets. Officers were still traveling to the area. Helicopters with infrared cameras that detect body heat continued the search into the night.
Heavily armed police responded to a report of footprints and two men near a railway track. But as the search resumed by foot, vehicle and helicopter on Sunday, with dog teams and staff on all-terrain vehicles, the men are still at large and their location unknown. By Sunday, the FBI, forest rangers, local and state police and corrections officers from a number of prisons in the region were striving to establish a secure perimeter of personnel and, they hoped, close in on Matt and Sweat.
Authorities put residents in the area on high alert as heavily armed police responded to the report of footprints and two men near a railway track and searched by foot, vehicle and helicopter, with dog teams and staff on all-terrain vehicles.
Friendship is close to the border between New York and Pennsylvania, in Allegany County.Friendship is close to the border between New York and Pennsylvania, in Allegany County.
The police warned local citizens not to approach anyone they thought might be the two men as they are considered highly dangerous, although it is not known if they are armed. The police warned local citizens not to approach anyone they thought might be the two men as they were considered highly dangerous, although it was not known if they were armed.
As the hunt began to be scaled back locally in recent days and officials admitted they had no idea where the two were, reports emerged on Friday night that two men resembling the inmates had been seen a few miles from the border separating New York and Pennsylvania. Then a fresh report came in of a possible sighting on Saturday afternoon. As the hunt began to be scaled back around Dannemora in recent days and officials admitted they had no idea where the two inmates were, the new sighting was reported. New York state police have investigated more than 600 tips and leads since 6 June, but after a short time on Saturday evening they described the sighting near Friendship as “credible” and began channeling officers to the area.
New York state police have investigated more than 600 tips and leads since 6 June, but after a short time on Saturday evening they described the sighting near Friendship as “credible” and began channeling officers to the area.
Matt and Sweat had expected a prison worker, Joyce Mitchell, to arrange their getaway from Dannemora, but Mitchell panicked and did not turn up, leaving the inmates to fend for themselves.Matt and Sweat had expected a prison worker, Joyce Mitchell, to arrange their getaway from Dannemora, but Mitchell panicked and did not turn up, leaving the inmates to fend for themselves.
Mitchell, 51, was questioned and then arrested on 12 June and charged in connection with smuggling tools to the inmates and assisting their breakout.Mitchell, 51, was questioned and then arrested on 12 June and charged in connection with smuggling tools to the inmates and assisting their breakout.
A corrections officer was also being investigated after being taken in for questioning on Friday night. His identity has not been confirmed but he was named as Gene Palmer, of Cadyville, very close to Dannemora, by the New York Times on Sunday, citing an official with knowledge of the case and reporting that two troopers were stationed outside his home.A corrections officer was also being investigated after being taken in for questioning on Friday night. His identity has not been confirmed but he was named as Gene Palmer, of Cadyville, very close to Dannemora, by the New York Times on Sunday, citing an official with knowledge of the case and reporting that two troopers were stationed outside his home.
New York state police and the US marshall service have collectively put up $150,000 in rewards for information leading to the men’s capture.New York state police and the US marshall service have collectively put up $150,000 in rewards for information leading to the men’s capture.