As the manhunt for two convicted murderers widens in northern New York State, law enforcement officials are no doubt beginning to wonder if the men have gotten out of town, and maybe even out of the country.
Entering its 10th day today, police continue to search a heavily-wooded area near Plattsburgh, New York, a small city in the northeastern corner of the state just west of the Vermont border. The two men on the run, David Sweat and Richard Matt, broke out of the maximum security Clinton Correctional Facility on June 6th, drawing comparisons by many to the iconic prison-break film “Shawshank Redemption” when it was discovered their escape included sawing through steel plates and pipes, scaling a catwalk, crawling through narrow tunnels, and breaking through a locked and chained manhole cover from within.
As difficult as it has been for police to find Sweat and Matt thus far, the two fugitives face an equally daunting challenge: survive and create as much distance as possible between them and police, all while keeping a low profile. In order to do that, the men will likely need a home base, money, and a few people who will help them keep flying under the radar, and that’s just to get started.
Where do fugitive hunters start with a case like this? What goes into tracking down a dangerous criminal? What are some of the things the fugitives might be considering as they continue their run? How do you gather information on someone who is going out of his or her way not to be found? We’ll speak with two men who have devoted their professional lives to tracking down fugitives and get an exclusive look inside the mind of the hunters and the hunted.
Guests:
Lenny DePaul, Chief Inspector/Commander (Ret.) of U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force
Craig Caine, Inspector (Ret.) U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force