Joyce Mitchell Arrested For Helping New York Prison Inmates Escape In ‘Shawshank’-Style Prison Break

Police arrested Joyce Mitchell for helping the New York prison inmates escape in what some have called a Shawshank-style jailbreak. David Sweat and Richard Matt managed the first successful escape ever from the maximum security portion of the Clinton Correctional Facility, but investigators knew from the start that they had help from someone on the inside.

In a related report by the Inquisitr, the New York manhunt continues to this day. A detective who put Richard Matt behind bars fears he may be targeted by the escaped convict. But the New York State Police have a message for the escaped prisoners.

“Members of law enforcement continue to go door to door in an around the surrounding area, checking homes and seasonal residences,” said Maj. Charles Guess, according to The Wall Street Journal. “We have a message for David Sweat and Richard Matt: We’re coming for you and we will not stop until you are caught.”

When the two New York prison inmates escaped, they also left a note for authorities which proclaimed, “Have a nice day.” Their prison break also left quite a mystery behind since it was obvious they had help.

“A search revealed that there was a hole cut out of the back of the cell through which these inmates escaped,” said Anthony Annucci, the acting state corrections commissioner. “They went onto a catwalk which is about six stories high. We estimate they climbed down and had power tools and were able to get out to this facility through tunnels, cutting away at several spots.”

Authorities originally suspected that contractors working at the Clinton Correctional Facility may have provided escape tools, but now they had arrested Joyce Mitchell for providing “contraband items” that authorities have declined to describe. The power tools were a necessity for the Shawshank-style prison escape since they had to cut through cell walls that included a steel plate and sever a 24-inch steam pipe. They also had to break down a brick wall before climbing out of a manhole.

According to WTAE, officials have not detailed how she helped. Insider sources claim that “Mitchell gave hacksaw blades, drill bits and lighted eyeglasses to the fugitive felons Richard Matt and David Sweat before their escape.” These contraband items were allegedly given to the escaped prisoners over the last several months.

Mitchell has worked with the New York prison since 2008 and her job title is “Industrial Training Supervisor.” It is believed that Mitchell may have developed a relationship with prisoner David Sweat, and Mitchell’s ex-husband has dubbed her a “cheater,” but the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision investigation determined there wasn’t enough evidence to take action.

After having Joyce Mitchell arrested, authorities had her charged with the felony of promoting prison contraband in addition to a misdemeanor called criminal facilitation. If convicted, she faces up to seven years for the felony and up to one year for the misdemeanor. It is also believed she originally planned on helping the New York prison inmates escape all the way, but changed her mind at the last minute.

Richard Matt weighs 210 pounds and is 6 feet tall, a Caucasian man with black hair, hazel eyes, and several tattoos: “Mexico Forever” on his back, a heart on his chest and left shoulder, and a Marine Corps insignia on his right shoulder. He is serving a sentence of 25 years to life for the kidnapping, dismemberment, and killing of his former boss in 1997.

David Sweat is a Caucasian man, weighing 165 pounds at 5 feet, 11 inches in height. He has brown hair, green eyes, and tattoos on his left bicep and right fingers. He was convicted of first-degree murder and should be serving life without parole for killing a sheriff’s deputy.

Anyone who has any information about the two missing New York prison inmates are urged to call 518-563-3761.