Media General – ALBANY, N.Y. – New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo released new details of the 23-day search for escaped murderers Richard Matt and David Sweat.
In a radio interview Monday, June 29, 2015, Cuomo said the plan for the convicted murderers was to connect with Joyce Mitchell and use her car to flee to Mexico.
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"The plan was to head to Mexico, which would have been aided by Joyce Mitchell's vehicle," Cuomo told WCNY-FM in Syracuse. "When Mitchell doesn't show up, the Mexico plan gets foiled and they head north (toward) Canada."
Mitchell, who worked in the Clinton Corrections Facility tailor shop, has been charged with aiding in their escape. Mitchell allegedly gave various tools to the inmates by hiding them in frozen hamburger. A second prison employee, Gene Palmer, also has been charged with helping the escapees.
According to Cuomo, Sweat, who still is receiving treatment in an Albany hospital after being shot twice in the torso Sunday during his capture, has spoken briefly to investigators about their escape and time on the run.
Per Cuomo, Sweat, 34, and Matt, 48, split five days ago. Sweat allegedly said the pair split because he felt "Matt was slowing him down." Matt was shot and killed Friday about 16 miles away from where Sweat was captured.