UPDATE: June 20, 2015: Authorities are focusing on an area of Pennsylvania according to this report issued on Saturday.
Original post, June 19, 2015
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Marshals have cast a wider net and added two escaped convicts to the Top 15 most wanted list, David Sweat and Richard Matt. Both men are considered to be armed and dangerous.
A massive manhunt has been underway, according to news reports, detailing their “Shawshank” like escape June 6 from the maximum security prison, and the internal scandal which includes an alleged illicit relationship between Matt and a prison employee, who may have helped them escape.
Authorities are distributing wanted posters from the Canadian border to Mexico, according to CNN. US Marshals have included New England in the alert.
Elevating them to the Most Wanted list allows for more resources to be used in tracking them down. After their escape from the Clinton Correctional Facility in New York, authorities began searching camp sites across Vermont.
You can read more here at CNN.com.
David Paul Sweat:
DOB: JUNE 14, 1980
Height: 5’ 10”
Weight: 165 POUNDS
Brown hair, green eyes. Right hand finger tattoo “IFB” and left arm “rebel” tattoo.
Wanted for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution – Escape from Prison Warrant Issued out of Northern District of New York
Original Charge: Prior to his escape from the Clinton Correctional Facility in New York State, Sweat was serving a sentence of life without parole following his conviction for the murder of a Broome County, New York, Sheriff’s Deputy. Sweat shot the Deputy multiple times in the head and body and then ran him over with the Deputy’s squad car.
A reward of up to $25,000 is offered for information leading directly to Sweat’s arrest.
Richard William Matt
Alias: Rich Matt
DOB: JUNE 25, 1966
Height: 5’ 10”
Weight: 190 POUNDS
Hazel eyes, brown hair. Marine Corps Eagle Globe and Anchor tattoo on right shoulder; image of hearts on chest and “Mexico forever” on back.
Wanted for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
Original Charge: Prior to his escape from the Clinton Correctional Facility in New York State, Richard W. Matt was serving a sentence of 25 years to life following his conviction in Niagara County, NY, for murder, kidnapping, and robbery. Matt kidnapped a male victim, beat and tortured him to death, and dismembered his body. Matt has a criminal history which includes a prior murder, kidnapping, assault, weapon possession, and burglary.
A reward of up to $25,000 is offered for information leading directly to MATT’s arrest.
If you believe you have seen either Sweat or Matt, contact the nearest U.S. Marshals Service office, American Embassy/Consulate, or call the U.S. Marshals Service Communications center at 1-800-336-0102.
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