$100,000 Reward for 2 Escaped Cons

Written by LANNING TALIAFERRO (Patch Staff)

A $100,000 reward is offered for information leading to the arrest of escaped Clinton Correctional Facility inmates Richard Matt and David Sweat.

Both men are considered to be a danger to the public and anyone with possible information or with knowledge of unusual activity should immediately contact the State Police at 518-563-3761.

As of Sunday afternoon, more than 250 law enforcement and corrections officials were actively searching for them.

“They are convicted murderers and our first order of business is to ensure they don’t inflict any more pain on the community,” Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said. “We are urging anybody who sees them or knows anything that may assist our investigation to contact the State Police as soon as possible. With the public’s help, we will return these men to where they belong – behind bars.”

According to WNBC-TV, law enforcement officials are looking at closely at the probability that the two received inside help - perhaps from civilians or contractors - to facilitate their escape.

“They couldn’t have escaped on their own,” Cuomo said during a press conference Monday.

Though the search remains mostly in the areas around the prison, Cuomo added that the two could be “anywhere,” including Canada, another state or even Mexico where Matt knows people.

Matt and Sweat were first unaccounted for during a 5:30 a.m. bed check on Saturday, and executed an elaborate escape plan to penetrate the prison walls and security that included cutting through metal pipes and walls using power tools.

It was the first time in Clinton Correctional Facility history that anyone has escaped from the maximum security portion of this facility. Nicknamed Dannemora after the village it’s located in, it was built starting in 1844. It is the largest maximum security prison and the third oldest prison in New York.

Sing Sing opened in 1826. It was named after the village it’s in, but the village leaders changed the community’s name to Ossining just to separate themselves a little.

The oldest prison in New York state, Auburn, opened in 1818, in Auburn, NY.

• Both Matt and Sweat are considered to be a danger to the public. If located DO NOT approach them. Contact 911 or the New York State Police immediately at (518) 563-3761.

Richard Matt, 48 years old, a white male, 6’ tall, 210 pounds, with black hair and hazel eyes. He has tattoos on back “Mexico Forever”, a heart on his chest and left shoulder, and a marine corps insignia on his right shoulder.

David Sweat, 34 years old, white male, 5’11” tall, 165 pounds, brown hair and green eyes. He has tattoos on his left bicep and his right fingers.

Sweat is serving a sentence of life without parole following his conviction in Broome County for one count of Murder 1st Degree after he caused the death of a Broome County Sheriff’s Deputy on July 4, 2002. Sweat was transferred to Clinton Correctional on October 30, 2003.

Matt is serving a sentence of 25 years to life following his conviction in Niagara County for three counts of murder, three counts of kidnapping, and two counts of robbery after he kidnapped a male victim and caused his death by beating him on December 3, 1997. Matt was transferred to Clinton Correctional on July 10, 2008.

According to state officials: State Police, in conjunction with Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Forest Rangers, U.S. Marshals, and the FBI are conducting grid searches to ensure a thorough search of the ground is completed.

More than 150 leads have been developed since the escape was reported. State Police, DOCCS, and federal investigative personnel as well as surrounding agencies are following up on each lead. Several aircraft from state and federal agencies are also being used.

The State Police currently have about 100 personnel including uniform, investigative and specialty units on the ground actively searching and following leads. State Police continue to coordinate with several other local, state and federal agencies. At this time, more than 250 corrections and law enforcement officers are involved in the region and additional investigative services are being applied statewide and nationally. All available assets are involved in this effort.

Patch Editor Alfred Branch contributed to this report.

Photo: Richard Matt, left, and David Sweat. Photo credit: NYS Police