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U.S. Marshals add escaped Clinton Correctional inmates to 15 Most Wanted Fugitives list

Posted 6/19/15

The U.S. Marshals Service has added Clinton County Correctional Facility escapees David Sweat and Richard Matt to its 15 Most Wanted fugitives list. Sweat was serving a life sentence for the murder …

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U.S. Marshals add escaped Clinton Correctional inmates to 15 Most Wanted Fugitives list

Posted

The U.S. Marshals Service has added Clinton County Correctional Facility escapees David Sweat and Richard Matt to its 15 Most Wanted fugitives list.

Sweat was serving a life sentence for the murder of a Broome County Sheriff’s Deputy in July 2002. Matt was serving a sentence of 25 years to life for the murder of a man he beat and dismembered in December 1997.

The two men escaped from the maximum security prison in Dannemora during the early hours of June 6 and have evaded capture for nearly two weeks.

“The agency’s 15 Most Wanted Fugitive list is reserved for the worst of the worst,” said U.S. Marshals service director Stacia Hylton. “There is no question David Sweat and Richard Matt fall into this category. While their brazen prison escape has left the public on edge, it has only ignited our sheer determination to bring them back to justice. Together with our law enforcement partners, the Marshals will work tirelessly to ensure the threat they pose and their run from the law is short lived.”

"These dangerous men will be brought to justice,” said State Police Superintendent Joseph A. D'Amico said. “We want to assure the public that all available assets are being used to locate Richard Matt and David Sweat. The U.S. Marshals Service's Most Wanted list is yet another way to notify the public of this escape and generate new leads. We want to thank our state, federal and local law enforcement partners, who continue to provide much needed manpower, equipment and expertise for this effort. We will continue to work together, collectively and collaboratively, until these two men are found."

State troopers, along with officers and Forest Rangers from the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the FBI, U.S. Marshals, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Clinton, Franklin and Essex County Sheriff Departments and the Plattsburgh Police Department have searched over 16 square miles (10,228 acres). All available assets continue to be deployed around the clock, including K9 and aviation units.

More than 1,200 leads have been developed at this point in the investigation.

“We are absolute in our commitment to apprehend these dangerous escapees and will leave no stone unturned with the help of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners during this fugitive investigation,” said Northern District of New York U.S. Marshal David L. McNulty. “Sweat and Matt have violent criminal histories and pose a significant threat to anyone who may come in contact with them.”

For each escapee, the U.S. Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading directly to his apprehension.

New York State is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of inmates Matt and Sweat

Anyone with information is urged to contact the New York State Police at 518-563-3761 or 1-800-GIVETIP (1-800-448-3847).

The New York State Police have released ‘progression photos’ of the two escaped killers who have eluded hundreds of law enforcement agents for nearly two weeks. To view those photos, see story.