Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:01,917 --> 00:00:03,417
(dramatic music)
2
00:00:03,417 --> 00:00:05,750
- Tonight, one of the
most brazen prison breaks
3
00:00:05,750 --> 00:00:07,167
in American history.
4
00:00:07,167 --> 00:00:10,708
- Alcatraz is considered
the highest security prison.
5
00:00:10,708 --> 00:00:14,875
It's on a rock in the middle
of the San Francisco Bay.
6
00:00:14,875 --> 00:00:16,208
- The cold water, the currents,
7
00:00:16,208 --> 00:00:18,750
all that make it
inescapable in the eyes
8
00:00:18,750 --> 00:00:20,250
of the federal government.
9
00:00:20,250 --> 00:00:23,167
- A perfectly masterminded
plot with only a handful
10
00:00:23,167 --> 00:00:24,625
of clues left behind.
11
00:00:24,625 --> 00:00:27,542
- These three inmates were
able to outsmart the guards
12
00:00:27,542 --> 00:00:30,208
and the FBI with some
paper mache heads,
13
00:00:30,208 --> 00:00:32,542
a spoon, and some raincoats.
14
00:00:32,542 --> 00:00:34,708
- And evidence suggests
that they made it
15
00:00:34,708 --> 00:00:36,542
off the rock and got away.
16
00:00:36,542 --> 00:00:38,583
- Now, we explore
the top theories
17
00:00:38,583 --> 00:00:42,833
surrounding the notorious
escape from Alcatraz.
18
00:00:42,833 --> 00:00:45,167
- I don't think any case
I've ever worked on has been
19
00:00:45,167 --> 00:00:48,417
scientifically tested as
much as this escape case.
20
00:00:48,417 --> 00:00:51,167
- It's one of the biggest
manhunts ever launched
21
00:00:51,167 --> 00:00:52,708
and it's still going on today.
22
00:00:52,708 --> 00:00:56,833
- What happened to these
infamous Alcatraz escapees?
23
00:00:56,833 --> 00:00:58,833
Is it really possible
they survived
24
00:00:58,833 --> 00:01:01,208
and if so, where did they go?
25
00:01:01,208 --> 00:01:03,542
(dramatic music)
26
00:01:16,792 --> 00:01:20,375
- [Laurence] It's the
morning of June 12th, 1962,
27
00:01:20,375 --> 00:01:24,083
on Alcatraz Island in
San Francisco Bay.
28
00:01:24,083 --> 00:01:27,167
- So we've got three
prisoners, Frank Morris,
29
00:01:27,167 --> 00:01:28,708
John Anglin,
30
00:01:28,708 --> 00:01:30,292
and his brother, Clarence.
31
00:01:30,292 --> 00:01:33,708
7:00 AM roll call one
day, they don't respond,
32
00:01:33,708 --> 00:01:36,167
so a guard goes to check
on all three of them.
33
00:01:36,167 --> 00:01:37,875
He sees all three of
them lying in their beds.
34
00:01:37,875 --> 00:01:39,708
So he walks over to Frank's cell
35
00:01:39,708 --> 00:01:41,958
and he taps him on the
head with his nightstick
36
00:01:41,958 --> 00:01:45,583
and Frank's head falls off.
37
00:01:47,083 --> 00:01:49,292
- This guard had the
shock of his life.
38
00:01:49,292 --> 00:01:53,333
He probably thought he had
just decapitated the man.
39
00:01:53,333 --> 00:01:56,375
- [Laurence] All three prisoners
have vanished from their cells
40
00:01:56,375 --> 00:01:59,542
with three lifelike paper
mache heads left behind.
41
00:01:59,542 --> 00:02:02,208
- Immediately, this
creates chaos.
42
00:02:02,208 --> 00:02:04,208
These prisoners are gone.
43
00:02:04,208 --> 00:02:06,875
How could these prisoners
have escaped this
44
00:02:06,875 --> 00:02:08,625
super security prison?
45
00:02:08,625 --> 00:02:11,875
- [Laurence] Alarms sound
as pandemonium takes hold.
46
00:02:12,958 --> 00:02:15,458
- The inmates are celebrating,
they're cheering and hollering.
47
00:02:15,458 --> 00:02:17,292
Meanwhile, the guards
are just trying
48
00:02:17,292 --> 00:02:19,417
to figure out what's going
on and they immediately
49
00:02:19,417 --> 00:02:20,875
start checking everyone's cell.
50
00:02:20,875 --> 00:02:23,417
They discover that another
prisoner, Allen West,
51
00:02:24,292 --> 00:02:26,000
also is in possession
52
00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:27,833
of a fake head made
out of paper mache.
53
00:02:28,833 --> 00:02:30,667
- [Laurence] West admits
he was part of an escape,
54
00:02:30,667 --> 00:02:33,625
but failed to get out
of his cell in time.
55
00:02:33,625 --> 00:02:36,000
In exchange for
leniency, he agrees
56
00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:37,708
to tell investigators exactly
57
00:02:37,708 --> 00:02:40,875
how his fellow inmates
did the impossible.
58
00:02:41,875 --> 00:02:43,750
- It's amazing that these
three men were even able
59
00:02:43,750 --> 00:02:46,875
to get out of the
prison complex itself.
60
00:02:46,875 --> 00:02:48,375
Alcatraz had the reputation
61
00:02:48,375 --> 00:02:50,667
of being the most secure
prison in the country.
62
00:02:51,708 --> 00:02:55,333
- There had been 36 recorded
escape attempts from Alcatraz.
63
00:02:55,333 --> 00:02:57,000
None of them succeeded.
64
00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:01,542
Prisoners were either shot
on site caught or drowned.
65
00:03:03,083 --> 00:03:05,958
- [Laurence] Alcatraz
opened in August, 1934,
66
00:03:05,958 --> 00:03:07,208
and quickly became known
67
00:03:07,208 --> 00:03:09,917
as the most fortified
prison in America.
68
00:03:09,917 --> 00:03:11,708
- Alcatraz is celebrated
69
00:03:11,708 --> 00:03:14,708
as the crown jewel of the
prison system at this time.
70
00:03:14,708 --> 00:03:16,958
All of the bars on
the windows are said
71
00:03:16,958 --> 00:03:18,458
to be tool safe.
72
00:03:18,458 --> 00:03:20,417
- There are remote
control gas canisters
73
00:03:20,417 --> 00:03:22,333
that can be deployed in
the event of an escape
74
00:03:22,333 --> 00:03:23,708
or in the event of a riot.
75
00:03:23,708 --> 00:03:25,417
There are guard
overlooks at each end
76
00:03:25,417 --> 00:03:27,708
so that guards can fire into
the cell blocks if needed.
77
00:03:27,708 --> 00:03:29,208
Even if you do get
outta Alcatraz,
78
00:03:29,208 --> 00:03:30,542
you still have to contend with
79
00:03:30,542 --> 00:03:33,042
six watch towers as
well as a 20 foot fence
80
00:03:33,042 --> 00:03:34,542
with barbed wire.
81
00:03:34,542 --> 00:03:36,667
And if by some miracle you
make it over that as well,
82
00:03:36,667 --> 00:03:38,208
you still are
dealing with the dark
83
00:03:38,208 --> 00:03:40,958
and turbulent waters of
the San Francisco Bay.
84
00:03:40,958 --> 00:03:43,000
(dramatic music)
85
00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:45,292
- I like to think of the
water surrounding Alcatraz
86
00:03:45,292 --> 00:03:46,500
as a kind of moat.
87
00:03:46,500 --> 00:03:48,208
We've got this
impenetrable fortress,
88
00:03:48,208 --> 00:03:49,792
the castle on the island.
89
00:03:49,792 --> 00:03:52,542
- Guys like Al Capone,
guys like Whitey Bulger,
90
00:03:52,542 --> 00:03:54,375
they get sent to Alcatraz.
91
00:03:54,375 --> 00:03:56,333
You've gotta be somebody
special to make it
92
00:03:56,333 --> 00:03:58,375
inside the walls of this prison.
93
00:03:58,375 --> 00:04:02,417
- Frank Morris and the Anglin
Brothers came to Alcatraz
94
00:04:02,417 --> 00:04:05,375
with a long history of escapes.
95
00:04:05,375 --> 00:04:08,625
- Frank Morris is a career
criminal, a very good one too.
96
00:04:08,625 --> 00:04:11,583
He'd been in and out of the
system since the age of 13,
97
00:04:11,583 --> 00:04:13,792
mostly for robbery charges.
98
00:04:13,792 --> 00:04:16,333
He was such an
accomplished escape artist
99
00:04:16,333 --> 00:04:18,667
that some people referred
to him as the Houdini
100
00:04:18,667 --> 00:04:21,458
of the prison system because
he had successfully escaped
101
00:04:21,458 --> 00:04:25,208
from so many facilities
before being sent to Alcatraz.
102
00:04:25,208 --> 00:04:26,458
- John and Clarence Anglin,
103
00:04:26,458 --> 00:04:29,083
they were from the
Florida, Georgia area.
104
00:04:29,083 --> 00:04:30,667
They were career criminals.
105
00:04:30,667 --> 00:04:33,667
They had robbed a bank
in Ohio with a toy gun.
106
00:04:33,667 --> 00:04:35,125
- But they get sent to Alcatraz
107
00:04:35,125 --> 00:04:37,708
because they were trying to
escape Leavenworth Prison.
108
00:04:39,042 --> 00:04:42,500
- [Laurence] But according to
the testimony Allen West gives,
109
00:04:42,500 --> 00:04:45,875
West is the mastermind
behind this plot.
110
00:04:45,875 --> 00:04:48,083
- Allen West is housed
in the same cell block
111
00:04:48,083 --> 00:04:51,625
and starts plotting out the
escape several months prior.
112
00:04:51,625 --> 00:04:54,458
- [Laurence] Allen West's prison
job is to repaint the top
113
00:04:54,458 --> 00:04:58,583
of the cell blocks, but he
soon sees an opportunity.
114
00:04:58,583 --> 00:05:02,292
Behind each of the cells
is a narrow utility
115
00:05:02,292 --> 00:05:05,542
and maintenance corridor
that runs three stories up
116
00:05:05,542 --> 00:05:07,333
to the top of the cell block.
117
00:05:07,333 --> 00:05:09,375
- Now, before you get to
the roof of the building,
118
00:05:09,375 --> 00:05:12,458
there's about a seven
foot gap above the cells,
119
00:05:12,458 --> 00:05:14,292
and in this gap,
West sees a vent
120
00:05:14,292 --> 00:05:16,042
that seems to lead
up to the roof.
121
00:05:16,042 --> 00:05:18,750
He thinks that if he can
somehow remove this vent,
122
00:05:18,750 --> 00:05:20,792
he can crawl through
it up to the roof
123
00:05:20,792 --> 00:05:22,875
and then slide down
this stove pipe
124
00:05:22,875 --> 00:05:24,708
from the prison bakery
on the northwest side
125
00:05:24,708 --> 00:05:25,750
of the building.
126
00:05:25,750 --> 00:05:27,333
But in order to pull
this escape plan off,
127
00:05:27,333 --> 00:05:28,875
West is gonna need some help.
128
00:05:28,875 --> 00:05:32,458
And to do this, he recruits
the guys from his cell block,
129
00:05:32,458 --> 00:05:37,333
guys that had already escaped
from other facilities.
130
00:05:37,333 --> 00:05:39,667
- [Laurence] But as West
tells investigators,
131
00:05:39,667 --> 00:05:42,417
they first needed a
way out of their cells
132
00:05:42,417 --> 00:05:44,833
and into the maintenance
corridor behind.
133
00:05:44,833 --> 00:05:48,417
- Looking inside of
a cell on Alcatraz,
134
00:05:48,417 --> 00:05:50,708
there's only a few features,
135
00:05:50,708 --> 00:05:54,292
and one of them right below
the sink is an air vent.
136
00:05:54,292 --> 00:05:56,833
- Because of the
deterioration of the facility
137
00:05:56,833 --> 00:05:59,625
and salt water wreaks
havoc on concrete,
138
00:05:59,625 --> 00:06:02,375
they were able to fashion spoons
139
00:06:02,375 --> 00:06:05,542
and be able to just
basically scrape away
140
00:06:05,542 --> 00:06:07,542
the concrete around this vent.
141
00:06:07,542 --> 00:06:10,500
- [Laurence] They work at night,
standing guard for each other
142
00:06:10,500 --> 00:06:13,083
and devise a way to
cover up their handiwork
143
00:06:14,500 --> 00:06:18,792
- Because these men would
be widening their vents,
144
00:06:18,792 --> 00:06:21,625
they couldn't just leave holes
in the back of their cells.
145
00:06:21,625 --> 00:06:25,250
- West secures green
paint from his prison job
146
00:06:25,250 --> 00:06:29,583
and he shows the other prisoners
that there's a way to kind
147
00:06:29,583 --> 00:06:32,208
of repaint around the
vent as they remove it.
148
00:06:32,208 --> 00:06:36,167
It requires a lot of patience
because the guards go around
149
00:06:36,167 --> 00:06:37,875
and do hourly checks.
150
00:06:37,875 --> 00:06:40,208
- Later on, what they do
is they start to create
151
00:06:40,208 --> 00:06:41,708
paper mache vents
152
00:06:41,708 --> 00:06:43,750
as sort of a cover for the
holes that they're creating.
153
00:06:43,750 --> 00:06:47,000
- If you looked at it
from the cell, you're only
154
00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:48,542
a good nine feet away.
155
00:06:48,542 --> 00:06:50,208
You just look at it, it
looks like the regular vent
156
00:06:50,208 --> 00:06:52,708
that was there in
the first place.
157
00:06:52,708 --> 00:06:54,708
- Morris and the Anglins
finally make their way
158
00:06:54,708 --> 00:06:56,208
through the hole
for the first time
159
00:06:56,208 --> 00:06:57,792
and they make their
way to the top
160
00:06:57,792 --> 00:07:00,375
of the cell block through
that maintenance hallway
161
00:07:00,375 --> 00:07:02,625
by climbing up pipes to
take a look at the vent
162
00:07:02,625 --> 00:07:04,458
that West has picked
out for the escape.
163
00:07:04,458 --> 00:07:05,750
But when they get to that vent,
164
00:07:05,750 --> 00:07:07,583
they realize that
they have a problem.
165
00:07:08,708 --> 00:07:11,167
The vent is bolted into place.
166
00:07:12,333 --> 00:07:13,708
- [Laurence] The
escapees will need time
167
00:07:13,708 --> 00:07:16,750
out of their cells over
weeks and even months
168
00:07:16,750 --> 00:07:19,875
to file down the bolt
securing the roof vent.
169
00:07:19,875 --> 00:07:22,792
But they face regular
nightly checks by the guards.
170
00:07:22,792 --> 00:07:26,625
So to convince the guards
they're still in their cells.
171
00:07:26,625 --> 00:07:30,917
the escapees design fake
heads for their prison beds.
172
00:07:30,917 --> 00:07:33,708
- The dummy heads have been
fashioned out of anything
173
00:07:33,708 --> 00:07:36,875
that these three men could
have gotten their hands on.
174
00:07:36,875 --> 00:07:39,583
They're paper mache,
but they're also soap.
175
00:07:39,583 --> 00:07:41,792
They're also cement.
176
00:07:41,792 --> 00:07:45,000
- For the finishing touch
on those paper mache heads.
177
00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:48,292
Clarence Anglin takes real
live human hair clippings
178
00:07:48,292 --> 00:07:52,167
from the barbershop and pastes
them to the top of the heads.
179
00:07:52,167 --> 00:07:54,208
(dramatic music)
180
00:07:54,208 --> 00:07:55,958
- [Laurence] The fake
heads give the escapees
181
00:07:55,958 --> 00:07:59,292
the time they need out of their
cells to file down the bolt
182
00:07:59,292 --> 00:08:01,875
and gain access to the roof.
183
00:08:01,875 --> 00:08:04,583
But getting outta the building
is only half the plan.
184
00:08:04,583 --> 00:08:08,208
They also have to figure
out a way to the shore.
185
00:08:08,208 --> 00:08:09,875
- Look at Alcatraz Island
186
00:08:09,875 --> 00:08:11,833
where it sits in
San Francisco Bay.
187
00:08:11,833 --> 00:08:14,750
It's only about a mile
from San Francisco proper.
188
00:08:14,750 --> 00:08:17,750
That mile of water is
pretty treacherous,
189
00:08:17,750 --> 00:08:20,708
so I know they do a
triathlon there every year.
190
00:08:20,708 --> 00:08:22,625
Even the triathletes that do it
191
00:08:22,625 --> 00:08:25,667
find it a pretty
treacherous swim.
192
00:08:25,667 --> 00:08:28,750
- So these aspiring escapists
come up with a plan.
193
00:08:28,750 --> 00:08:31,875
They need a raft or some
kind of floatation device.
194
00:08:31,875 --> 00:08:35,542
- [Laurence] The escapees come
up with an ingenious plan
195
00:08:35,542 --> 00:08:39,375
to turn prison rain jackets
into an inflatable raft
196
00:08:39,375 --> 00:08:41,708
and several life preservers.
197
00:08:41,708 --> 00:08:43,750
- Looking at a "Popular
Mechanics" magazine,
198
00:08:43,750 --> 00:08:45,958
they were able to not only
figure out how to make 'em,
199
00:08:45,958 --> 00:08:48,542
but also come up
with waterproof glue
200
00:08:48,542 --> 00:08:51,083
that would keep it
together in the water.
201
00:08:51,083 --> 00:08:53,708
- They also fashioned
paddles out of wood scraps
202
00:08:53,708 --> 00:08:56,208
and plywood that they
find around the prison.
203
00:08:56,208 --> 00:08:59,833
They steal a concertina and
use it as a kind of bellows
204
00:08:59,833 --> 00:09:02,000
to inflate this makeshift raft.
205
00:09:04,167 --> 00:09:07,958
- Even if the prisoners were
successful with the raft,
206
00:09:07,958 --> 00:09:10,000
this is by no means
a proper boat.
207
00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:12,417
This is basically a
floating mattress.
208
00:09:12,417 --> 00:09:15,708
- [Laurence] Finally,
on June 11th, 1962,
209
00:09:15,708 --> 00:09:18,750
West says the plans
are complete.
210
00:09:18,750 --> 00:09:20,417
When the cell block
lights are turned off
211
00:09:20,417 --> 00:09:22,875
at 9:00 PM, the men
make their move,
212
00:09:22,875 --> 00:09:26,000
but almost immediately,
there's a problem.
213
00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:30,708
- Allen West has done too good
a job at fashioning his fake
214
00:09:30,708 --> 00:09:33,708
vent cover and he's
affixed it so tightly
215
00:09:33,708 --> 00:09:35,042
that he can't remove it.
216
00:09:35,042 --> 00:09:38,042
So the other three meet
at the top of this wall
217
00:09:38,042 --> 00:09:40,500
and West isn't there, so
they leave him behind.
218
00:09:40,500 --> 00:09:44,000
- [Laurence] Investigators piece
together what happens next.
219
00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:46,667
- You could actually see
their footprints on the roof
220
00:09:46,667 --> 00:09:49,958
the next morning and they
got over to the kitchen area
221
00:09:49,958 --> 00:09:53,000
and there was a stovepipe
that came up that went
222
00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,750
above the top of the
roof of the facility
223
00:09:55,750 --> 00:09:57,333
and they shimmied down.
224
00:09:57,333 --> 00:09:59,917
That stovepipe got
onto the ground.
225
00:09:59,917 --> 00:10:01,833
- They scramble away from the
building toward this massive
226
00:10:01,833 --> 00:10:03,250
chain link fence, and
when they get there,
227
00:10:03,250 --> 00:10:05,708
they throw this huge
blanket over the barbed wire
228
00:10:05,708 --> 00:10:07,833
so that they can climb
over it without incident.
229
00:10:07,833 --> 00:10:09,875
- [Laurence] Sometime
around 10:00 PM,
230
00:10:09,875 --> 00:10:13,417
Frank Morris, John Anglin,
and his brother Clarence
231
00:10:13,417 --> 00:10:15,708
launch their makeshift raft
232
00:10:15,708 --> 00:10:19,625
into the treacherous waters
of the San Francisco Bay,
233
00:10:19,625 --> 00:10:21,208
never to be seen again.
234
00:10:23,875 --> 00:10:26,708
- The next morning,
once it's discovered
235
00:10:26,708 --> 00:10:28,292
these prisoners are missing,
236
00:10:28,292 --> 00:10:30,708
the big question among
the prisoners, the guards,
237
00:10:30,708 --> 00:10:33,125
and eventually the public,
is did they make it?
238
00:10:34,542 --> 00:10:37,208
So the FBI is called
in to launch a search.
239
00:10:37,208 --> 00:10:39,333
(dramatic music)
240
00:10:41,250 --> 00:10:43,375
- There are incredible perils
that face you if you try
241
00:10:43,375 --> 00:10:46,792
to dip even one toe in the
waters of the San Francisco Bay.
242
00:10:46,792 --> 00:10:48,708
- It's 40 to 60 degrees.
243
00:10:48,708 --> 00:10:51,083
The human body is not
accustomed to that.
244
00:10:51,083 --> 00:10:53,750
- Hypothermia can set
in well within one hour,
245
00:10:53,750 --> 00:10:57,083
sometimes within minutes,
and the fog can be so dense
246
00:10:57,083 --> 00:11:00,042
that you cannot see more
than a few dozen feet
247
00:11:00,042 --> 00:11:01,375
in front of you.
248
00:11:01,375 --> 00:11:06,542
Being on a raft, mostly
subject to the moving currents,
249
00:11:06,542 --> 00:11:09,083
it would've been
completely disorienting.
250
00:11:09,083 --> 00:11:11,042
- Also, the current
is very strong.
251
00:11:11,042 --> 00:11:13,542
It's almost twice as
strong as any human,
252
00:11:13,542 --> 00:11:15,708
even an accomplished
swimmer, can paddle.
253
00:11:15,708 --> 00:11:18,208
There is a massive
manhunt that is launched.
254
00:11:18,208 --> 00:11:22,042
Air, land, sea, the
FBI, local authorities.
255
00:11:22,042 --> 00:11:25,792
Their faces are in every
newspaper in America.
256
00:11:26,875 --> 00:11:29,667
Their hometowns are
watched very closely.
257
00:11:30,875 --> 00:11:34,000
The manhunt quickly deduces
that there's no question
258
00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:36,417
that these men made
it out of their cells
259
00:11:36,417 --> 00:11:38,875
and outta the prison
complex and into the water.
260
00:11:38,875 --> 00:11:41,208
But after that, there's
a lot of mystery.
261
00:11:41,208 --> 00:11:42,708
(boat horn blares)
262
00:11:42,708 --> 00:11:44,708
- [Laurence] Five weeks
after the escape,
263
00:11:44,708 --> 00:11:47,583
a sailor aboard a
Norwegian freighter
264
00:11:47,583 --> 00:11:49,875
makes a grim discovery.
265
00:11:49,875 --> 00:11:53,250
- One of the deckhands
saw a body in the water.
266
00:11:53,250 --> 00:11:56,250
It seemed to fit the
description of the clothes
267
00:11:56,250 --> 00:11:59,208
that would be worn by
an Alcatraz inmate.
268
00:11:59,208 --> 00:12:01,250
- [Laurence] The alleged
corpse is never recovered,
269
00:12:01,250 --> 00:12:04,292
but authorities are
certain it could not be
270
00:12:04,292 --> 00:12:06,000
one of the escaped convicts.
271
00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:08,833
- Five weeks is just too long.
272
00:12:08,833 --> 00:12:11,042
It is a point at which
the body has gone
273
00:12:11,042 --> 00:12:12,875
into such an advanced
stage of decay
274
00:12:12,875 --> 00:12:16,375
that it's almost
unrecognizable as a human body.
275
00:12:16,375 --> 00:12:17,750
- San Francisco Bay is home
276
00:12:17,750 --> 00:12:20,208
to about a dozen
different shark species.
277
00:12:20,208 --> 00:12:22,750
One of these species is
the infamous great white.
278
00:12:23,417 --> 00:12:24,667
Given how many different kinds
279
00:12:24,667 --> 00:12:27,417
of animals are in
San Francisco Bay
280
00:12:27,417 --> 00:12:30,708
and in the surrounding
ocean, it's very unlikely
281
00:12:30,708 --> 00:12:33,333
that anybody in the
water would have remained
282
00:12:33,333 --> 00:12:35,917
intact for five weeks.
283
00:12:35,917 --> 00:12:39,042
Most likely, all of the tissue
would've been picked clean.
284
00:12:39,042 --> 00:12:41,125
- [Laurence] But despite
the FBI's analysis,
285
00:12:41,125 --> 00:12:44,958
some believe the convicts
somehow made it to land.
286
00:12:44,958 --> 00:12:46,750
- They had a really
great plan in place
287
00:12:46,750 --> 00:12:48,083
and there is some
evidence that suggests
288
00:12:48,083 --> 00:12:50,208
that they might have
made it after all.
289
00:12:56,542 --> 00:12:58,875
- [Laurence] June 1962.
290
00:12:58,875 --> 00:13:01,250
Although the three convicts
successfully escaped
291
00:13:01,250 --> 00:13:04,833
Alcatraz prison, their
trail seems to go cold
292
00:13:04,833 --> 00:13:08,000
in the frigid waters of
the San Francisco Bay.
293
00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:10,042
Most people following
the case presume
294
00:13:10,042 --> 00:13:12,875
the men never made
it to freedom.
295
00:13:14,250 --> 00:13:17,042
- The FBI concludes that
these three men have drowned.
296
00:13:17,042 --> 00:13:21,542
Others are quick to say, maybe
something else happened.
297
00:13:21,542 --> 00:13:23,875
(tense music)
298
00:13:26,042 --> 00:13:27,917
- You can certainly see how
embarrassing this would be
299
00:13:27,917 --> 00:13:29,792
for the prison and for the FBI,
300
00:13:29,792 --> 00:13:32,125
this maximum security prison
301
00:13:32,125 --> 00:13:35,042
and yet these three inmates
were able to outsmart the guards
302
00:13:35,042 --> 00:13:37,542
and the FBI with some
paper mache heads,
303
00:13:37,542 --> 00:13:40,125
a spoon, and some raincoats.
304
00:13:40,125 --> 00:13:43,375
- While no bodies are
found, there is evidence
305
00:13:43,375 --> 00:13:44,833
that pops up in
the first few days
306
00:13:44,833 --> 00:13:47,042
that raises a lot of questions.
307
00:13:47,042 --> 00:13:49,250
- [Laurence]
Investigator's best source
308
00:13:49,250 --> 00:13:53,167
is still sitting in a
cell on Alcatraz Island.
309
00:13:53,167 --> 00:13:55,417
- Allen West is
already identified as
310
00:13:55,417 --> 00:13:58,417
the fourth escapee, or
the would-be escapee.
311
00:13:58,417 --> 00:14:00,125
He has the paper mache head
312
00:14:00,125 --> 00:14:02,375
and the false front on
his vent to prove it.
313
00:14:02,375 --> 00:14:05,125
- [Laurence] After describing
his clever plan for getting out
314
00:14:05,125 --> 00:14:08,042
of the cell block, West divulges
315
00:14:08,042 --> 00:14:10,208
the convicts'
planned escape route.
316
00:14:10,208 --> 00:14:14,042
Instead of traveling one
mile south to San Francisco,
317
00:14:14,042 --> 00:14:18,250
they'll head two miles
north to Angel Island.
318
00:14:18,250 --> 00:14:20,625
- It may seem a little
strange why the inmates
319
00:14:20,625 --> 00:14:24,542
would've wanted to go two
miles north to another island,
320
00:14:24,542 --> 00:14:25,708
but it kind of makes sense
321
00:14:25,708 --> 00:14:27,417
because they could
have been recognized
322
00:14:27,417 --> 00:14:30,208
or spotted in their
prison garb if they were
323
00:14:30,208 --> 00:14:31,833
in a heavily populated area.
324
00:14:31,833 --> 00:14:34,042
- [Laurence] At the time,
Angel Island is home
325
00:14:34,042 --> 00:14:36,667
to a missile base that's
being decommissioned
326
00:14:36,667 --> 00:14:38,542
and therefore could
hold advantages
327
00:14:38,542 --> 00:14:40,000
for the three wanted men.
328
00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:43,042
- It's being taken
offline and there are
329
00:14:43,042 --> 00:14:45,375
very few people there
at any given time.
330
00:14:45,375 --> 00:14:48,083
There also might be actual
boats there that the men can use
331
00:14:48,083 --> 00:14:49,458
to make it to the mainland.
332
00:14:49,458 --> 00:14:52,250
The mainland in this
instance isn't San Francisco,
333
00:14:52,250 --> 00:14:55,208
but Marin County, which is only
a quarter of a mile north.
334
00:14:55,208 --> 00:14:58,042
- Once they landed in
Marin, Allen West says
335
00:14:58,042 --> 00:14:59,958
the plan was to steal a car.
336
00:15:00,917 --> 00:15:02,750
- Allen West gave
many interviews,
337
00:15:02,750 --> 00:15:04,667
some of them good,
some of them bad.
338
00:15:04,667 --> 00:15:06,958
Did West tell the truth?
339
00:15:06,958 --> 00:15:09,625
You really had to take
him, anything he said
340
00:15:09,625 --> 00:15:11,167
with a grain of salt.
341
00:15:11,167 --> 00:15:13,375
- The FBI has all of this
information the morning
342
00:15:13,375 --> 00:15:16,875
after the escape, and sure
enough, there is some evidence
343
00:15:16,875 --> 00:15:19,958
that suggests that
West's theory is correct.
344
00:15:19,958 --> 00:15:22,292
(dramatic music)
345
00:15:25,625 --> 00:15:28,125
- [Laurence] While searching
the waters around Angel Island
346
00:15:28,125 --> 00:15:30,125
a few days after the escape,
347
00:15:30,125 --> 00:15:33,833
investigators discover a
crucial clue that could line up
348
00:15:33,833 --> 00:15:36,000
with the testimony
of Allen West.
349
00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:38,583
- There was a sealed
packet made out
350
00:15:38,583 --> 00:15:40,208
of the rubber raincoats,
351
00:15:40,208 --> 00:15:42,625
so obviously none of
the water would get in.
352
00:15:42,625 --> 00:15:45,125
They were able to confirm that
they belonged to the Anglins
353
00:15:45,125 --> 00:15:46,875
because they had many
Anglin family members,
354
00:15:46,875 --> 00:15:49,333
some pictures of
the family members.
355
00:15:49,333 --> 00:15:52,250
- [Laurence] Investigators
also find another clue
356
00:15:52,250 --> 00:15:56,208
off of Angel Island, a
makeshift wooden paddle,
357
00:15:56,208 --> 00:15:59,333
just like the one
Allen West described.
358
00:16:00,458 --> 00:16:03,042
- All the stuff they found
in San Francisco Bay led them
359
00:16:03,042 --> 00:16:05,708
to believe that they drowned
in San Francisco Bay.
360
00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:10,042
- The FBI states that
there are no bodies,
361
00:16:10,042 --> 00:16:11,667
there's no life raft
on Angel Island,
362
00:16:11,667 --> 00:16:14,500
and the trip would've been too
difficult to make at night.
363
00:16:14,500 --> 00:16:16,875
So they stand by their
original conclusion
364
00:16:16,875 --> 00:16:18,208
that these men had drowned.
365
00:16:18,208 --> 00:16:21,250
- [Laurence]
December 31st, 1979.
366
00:16:21,250 --> 00:16:23,958
More than 17 years
after the escape,
367
00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:27,542
the FBI officially
closes the case.
368
00:16:27,542 --> 00:16:29,917
The file is handed over
to the US Marshals
369
00:16:29,917 --> 00:16:33,125
in the event any
new leads come up.
370
00:16:33,125 --> 00:16:36,458
The case remains
dormant until 2003.
371
00:16:36,458 --> 00:16:40,250
- US Marshal Michael Dyke
decides to just poke around
372
00:16:40,250 --> 00:16:42,625
and see if this famous
story, if he might be able
373
00:16:42,625 --> 00:16:44,417
to add something to it.
374
00:16:44,417 --> 00:16:46,375
- [Laurence] It isn't
long before Dyke
375
00:16:46,375 --> 00:16:49,375
finds compelling evidence in
the government documents.
376
00:16:49,375 --> 00:16:52,042
- Michael Dyke goes back
into the Marin County police
377
00:16:52,042 --> 00:16:55,083
records and he finds that
there is a stolen car report
378
00:16:55,083 --> 00:16:57,458
that there was a
1955 blue Chevy,
379
00:16:57,458 --> 00:17:00,667
which was reported stolen on
the night of the men's escape.
380
00:17:00,667 --> 00:17:03,875
- The eyewitness that saw it
first said there were three men
381
00:17:03,875 --> 00:17:05,875
inside of the vehicle.
382
00:17:05,875 --> 00:17:08,542
At the time, that
didn't mean anything
383
00:17:08,542 --> 00:17:11,458
because the escape wasn't
yet public knowledge.
384
00:17:11,458 --> 00:17:14,833
- [Laurence] Then, Dyke
finds another police report
385
00:17:14,833 --> 00:17:16,542
from Stockton, California,
386
00:17:16,542 --> 00:17:19,875
almost 100 miles
east of Marin County.
387
00:17:19,875 --> 00:17:22,375
(tense music)
388
00:17:22,375 --> 00:17:25,542
- Within just a few hours
of the reported auto theft,
389
00:17:25,542 --> 00:17:28,500
a man in Stockton says that
he's forced off the road
390
00:17:28,500 --> 00:17:33,375
by a blue Chevy being
driven by three men.
391
00:17:33,375 --> 00:17:35,833
- Later on, when that
blue car is seen again,
392
00:17:35,833 --> 00:17:39,083
closer to Stockton with
three people inside of it,
393
00:17:39,083 --> 00:17:41,167
that raises some eyebrows.
394
00:17:41,167 --> 00:17:43,708
- It also does provide
fodder for the idea
395
00:17:43,708 --> 00:17:46,875
that maybe the FBI closed the
case a little bit too quickly.
396
00:17:46,875 --> 00:17:50,042
What's sure is that it does
stoke even more alternative
397
00:17:50,042 --> 00:17:52,667
theories about what
might have happened.
398
00:17:52,667 --> 00:17:54,708
- [Laurence] If this
evidence is to be trusted,
399
00:17:54,708 --> 00:17:57,542
the men may have very well
survived the frigid waters
400
00:17:57,542 --> 00:18:00,500
and fled to Angel Island
according to plan.
401
00:18:00,500 --> 00:18:02,000
- Frank Morris and
the Anglin brothers
402
00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:03,542
really could have
gotten away with it.
403
00:18:07,833 --> 00:18:10,250
(tense music)
404
00:18:10,250 --> 00:18:12,542
- [Laurence] There's never
been any hard proof behind
405
00:18:12,542 --> 00:18:16,333
the FBI's long-held belief
that the Alcatraz escapees
406
00:18:16,333 --> 00:18:19,083
died in the San Francisco Bay.
407
00:18:19,083 --> 00:18:20,625
What evidence does exist
408
00:18:20,625 --> 00:18:24,750
points to several other
possible outcomes.
409
00:18:24,750 --> 00:18:26,542
- There are mysteries
that are still surrounding
410
00:18:26,542 --> 00:18:28,250
Frank Morris and
the Anglin brothers
411
00:18:28,250 --> 00:18:30,458
after they reached the water.
412
00:18:30,458 --> 00:18:33,250
- One of the statements Allen
West gave to the FBI was
413
00:18:33,250 --> 00:18:36,042
that the escapees were
gonna head to Angel Island
414
00:18:36,042 --> 00:18:37,458
and sure enough,
415
00:18:37,458 --> 00:18:40,542
they turned up some
evidence on Angel Island.
416
00:18:40,542 --> 00:18:42,417
- [Laurence] But even
this theory has been
417
00:18:42,417 --> 00:18:44,833
called into question
in recent years,
418
00:18:44,833 --> 00:18:48,667
thanks to a sophisticated new
model of San Francisco Bay.
419
00:18:49,875 --> 00:18:51,875
(dramatic music)
420
00:18:51,875 --> 00:18:55,292
- It's certainly possible
that Allen West was correct
421
00:18:55,292 --> 00:18:57,958
that the original plan
was for the inmates to go
422
00:18:57,958 --> 00:19:00,542
to Angel Island just
north of Alcatraz.
423
00:19:00,542 --> 00:19:02,708
But the truth is that
given the currents,
424
00:19:02,708 --> 00:19:05,042
what they were doing
in the Bay that night,
425
00:19:05,042 --> 00:19:07,333
the inmates might not
have had a choice.
426
00:19:09,625 --> 00:19:12,708
The Army Corps of Engineers
has developed a large scale
427
00:19:12,708 --> 00:19:15,167
hydraulic model of
San Francisco Bay
428
00:19:15,167 --> 00:19:18,125
to study the tides and the
currents of this system.
429
00:19:18,125 --> 00:19:20,042
A team of Dutch scientists
was then allowed
430
00:19:20,042 --> 00:19:23,125
to use this model to predict
431
00:19:23,125 --> 00:19:25,208
where the inmates
might have been taken
432
00:19:25,208 --> 00:19:28,375
if they were successful
in getting off the island.
433
00:19:28,375 --> 00:19:30,542
- [Laurence] The model
reveals that any attempt
434
00:19:30,542 --> 00:19:33,208
to reach Angel Island
directly from Alcatraz
435
00:19:33,208 --> 00:19:36,375
means paddling
against the current.
436
00:19:37,417 --> 00:19:39,208
- It would've been almost
impossible for them
437
00:19:39,208 --> 00:19:41,875
to fight their way
against that current.
438
00:19:41,875 --> 00:19:45,167
It would've been like trying
to swim in a treadmill.
439
00:19:45,167 --> 00:19:46,917
- And with the speed
of the current,
440
00:19:46,917 --> 00:19:48,208
it would be very
difficult for you
441
00:19:48,208 --> 00:19:50,208
to fight your way
back to the shore.
442
00:19:50,208 --> 00:19:52,000
- [Laurence] The scientists'
model shows that
443
00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:54,250
as the tide is going
out that night,
444
00:19:54,250 --> 00:19:57,792
the current travels west,
toward the one mile wide,
445
00:19:57,792 --> 00:20:02,125
Golden Gate Strait that
leads out to the Pacific.
446
00:20:02,125 --> 00:20:04,667
- And the closer they
got to the Golden Gate,
447
00:20:04,667 --> 00:20:06,458
the faster the currents
would've gotten
448
00:20:06,458 --> 00:20:09,208
because all of that water
is being funneled out
449
00:20:09,208 --> 00:20:10,792
through that very
narrow opening.
450
00:20:12,083 --> 00:20:13,750
- It happens pretty fast too,
451
00:20:13,750 --> 00:20:15,542
and there are plenty of
examples of small vessels
452
00:20:15,542 --> 00:20:17,625
that either lose power
or become disabled
453
00:20:17,625 --> 00:20:19,792
and end up getting
swept out to sea.
454
00:20:19,792 --> 00:20:22,917
- [Laurence] As the tide turns
between 11:00 and 12:00 AM,
455
00:20:22,917 --> 00:20:27,292
the current slows and a window
of opportunity opens up.
456
00:20:27,292 --> 00:20:30,042
- There is this small
moment called slack tide
457
00:20:30,042 --> 00:20:32,250
where there is an uncommon calm
458
00:20:32,250 --> 00:20:34,625
and there's almost
no current at all.
459
00:20:34,625 --> 00:20:36,333
- [Laurence] The
scientists simulate
460
00:20:36,333 --> 00:20:38,333
what would happen if
the inmates entered
461
00:20:38,333 --> 00:20:41,125
the water during this window.
462
00:20:41,125 --> 00:20:42,792
- So as part of this simulation,
463
00:20:42,792 --> 00:20:45,250
these scientists run a
bunch of different scenarios
464
00:20:45,250 --> 00:20:46,708
to see what would've happened.
465
00:20:46,708 --> 00:20:49,167
In the first one with
basically no paddling,
466
00:20:49,167 --> 00:20:51,500
the raft just carries
them out to sea.
467
00:20:51,500 --> 00:20:54,708
- The second simulation
was with the raft,
468
00:20:54,708 --> 00:20:57,833
with the inmates paddling,
and what was found
469
00:20:57,833 --> 00:21:00,833
is that even though
the raft is being swept
470
00:21:00,833 --> 00:21:03,708
toward the Golden Gate,
with enough effort,
471
00:21:03,708 --> 00:21:07,208
the inmates could have
deflected the raft away
472
00:21:07,208 --> 00:21:10,042
from the mouth of
San Francisco Bay
473
00:21:10,042 --> 00:21:11,458
and continued their journey.
474
00:21:12,458 --> 00:21:14,375
- [Laurence] Just beyond
the Golden Gate Bridge
475
00:21:14,375 --> 00:21:19,458
sits Fort Cronkite, a military
post during World War II.
476
00:21:19,458 --> 00:21:23,375
By 1962, many of its buildings
were being torn down
477
00:21:23,375 --> 00:21:24,833
by the army.
478
00:21:24,833 --> 00:21:28,375
It's here that the FBI finds
another important piece
479
00:21:28,375 --> 00:21:30,500
of evidence from the escape.
480
00:21:30,500 --> 00:21:33,458
- So one of the life vests
turns up on Fort Cronkite.
481
00:21:33,458 --> 00:21:35,625
They were able to test it
and they figured out, hey,
482
00:21:35,625 --> 00:21:37,292
this thing is
functioning very well.
483
00:21:37,292 --> 00:21:39,583
(dramatic music)
484
00:21:41,417 --> 00:21:42,667
- Allen West makes the claim
485
00:21:42,667 --> 00:21:44,208
that they're heading
toward Angel Island
486
00:21:44,208 --> 00:21:46,875
and we find objects
at Angel Island.
487
00:21:46,875 --> 00:21:49,000
At the same time, we
also have the life vest
488
00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:50,417
that was found at Fort Cronkite.
489
00:21:50,417 --> 00:21:53,500
So now, we can connect objects
to two separate locations.
490
00:21:53,500 --> 00:21:54,875
- [Laurence] The
model shows that
491
00:21:54,875 --> 00:21:57,875
after the window of
opportunity at slack tide,
492
00:21:57,875 --> 00:22:01,417
the tide turns and
the current reverses.
493
00:22:01,417 --> 00:22:03,542
It's feasible the
escapees' items
494
00:22:03,542 --> 00:22:06,833
could have been carried back
into the bay hours later.
495
00:22:06,833 --> 00:22:09,875
- That could explain why a
packet of items that belonged to
496
00:22:09,875 --> 00:22:12,167
one of the Anglin brothers, as
well as one of their paddles,
497
00:22:12,167 --> 00:22:13,333
ended up at Angel Island.
498
00:22:13,333 --> 00:22:15,708
Even if they didn't
intend to go there.
499
00:22:15,708 --> 00:22:17,583
We know that if Morris
and the Anglins left
500
00:22:17,583 --> 00:22:19,542
when the tides went out,
the current would've swept
501
00:22:19,542 --> 00:22:21,375
them under the
Golden Gate Bridge.
502
00:22:21,375 --> 00:22:25,167
What would be harder to
explain is why this life vest
503
00:22:25,167 --> 00:22:27,125
would end up at Fort Cronkite
504
00:22:27,125 --> 00:22:28,458
when the current
wasn't taking it
505
00:22:28,458 --> 00:22:30,375
in that particular direction.
506
00:22:30,375 --> 00:22:31,917
- [Laurence] Fort
Cronkite sits just
507
00:22:31,917 --> 00:22:34,667
inside Marin County, not
far from the location
508
00:22:34,667 --> 00:22:37,000
where the blue Chevrolet
was reported stolen,
509
00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:40,958
according to the reports US
Marshal Michael Dyke uncovered.
510
00:22:40,958 --> 00:22:44,042
- It's possible that Allen
West's story was true
511
00:22:44,042 --> 00:22:45,583
as he understood it,
512
00:22:45,583 --> 00:22:48,042
but after they'd left him
behind, the current takes them
513
00:22:48,042 --> 00:22:50,667
to a totally different spot
than any of them had planned
514
00:22:50,667 --> 00:22:53,542
and of course, than Allen
West would've known about.
515
00:22:53,542 --> 00:22:57,250
- In any of these plans, you
have to think on the fly.
516
00:22:57,250 --> 00:22:59,458
If they couldn't get
to their objective A,
517
00:22:59,458 --> 00:23:00,917
they gotta have plan B.
518
00:23:00,917 --> 00:23:03,458
Plan B could have been
just going with a current.
519
00:23:03,458 --> 00:23:06,333
(waves crashing)
(tense music)
520
00:23:08,833 --> 00:23:11,458
- It's also possible,
of course, that even
521
00:23:11,458 --> 00:23:13,042
with all these effects
that were found,
522
00:23:13,042 --> 00:23:16,500
the life jacket at Fort
Cronkite, the photos
523
00:23:16,500 --> 00:23:18,833
and the list of family
contacts floating
524
00:23:18,833 --> 00:23:21,500
around near Angel Island,
all of those items could
525
00:23:21,500 --> 00:23:21,708
of course have been found,
526
00:23:22,375 --> 00:23:22,958
of course have been found,
527
00:23:23,500 --> 00:23:25,042
but the men still
could have drowned.
528
00:23:25,042 --> 00:23:26,583
(seagulls calling)
529
00:23:30,458 --> 00:23:32,083
(tense music)
530
00:23:32,083 --> 00:23:34,708
- In 1979, the FBI concludes
531
00:23:34,708 --> 00:23:39,042
that the three Alcatraz
escapees never made it to shore
532
00:23:39,042 --> 00:23:41,667
and died in the frigid,
shark infested waters
533
00:23:41,667 --> 00:23:43,542
of the San Francisco Bay.
534
00:23:43,542 --> 00:23:46,458
But maybe that's exactly
what the men wanted everyone
535
00:23:46,458 --> 00:23:50,542
to believe, when in fact
they devised a much more
536
00:23:50,542 --> 00:23:53,333
sophisticated
getaway with the help
537
00:23:53,333 --> 00:23:55,375
of some very important friends.
538
00:23:59,042 --> 00:24:01,167
- When you look at who
came through Alcatraz,
539
00:24:01,167 --> 00:24:03,833
some of the biggest gangsters
we've had in this country,
540
00:24:03,833 --> 00:24:06,833
Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly.
541
00:24:06,833 --> 00:24:10,375
- It is true that when
these men were at Alcatraz
542
00:24:10,375 --> 00:24:11,625
that they rubbed shoulders
543
00:24:11,625 --> 00:24:15,125
with famous mobsters,
including Whitey Bulger.
544
00:24:15,125 --> 00:24:17,917
One story is that Whitey
Bulger was helping these men
545
00:24:17,917 --> 00:24:20,958
in their escape by
a certain workaround
546
00:24:20,958 --> 00:24:22,625
of these hot showers.
547
00:24:22,625 --> 00:24:25,208
- It's said that one other
security measure at Alcatraz
548
00:24:25,208 --> 00:24:28,875
was to maintain the showers
at a very hot temperature.
549
00:24:30,125 --> 00:24:32,917
This was so the prisoners could
not acclimate their bodies
550
00:24:32,917 --> 00:24:35,542
to cold water and then
have a greater chance
551
00:24:35,542 --> 00:24:38,042
of being successful
in swimming away.
552
00:24:38,042 --> 00:24:41,708
- [Laurence] Allegedly, Bulger
helps the men find a workaround.
553
00:24:41,708 --> 00:24:44,917
- Supposedly, Whitey Bulger
advises these inmates
554
00:24:44,917 --> 00:24:48,208
to take buckets of hot
water from the showers
555
00:24:48,208 --> 00:24:49,917
and allow it to cool down
556
00:24:49,917 --> 00:24:52,958
and then use that to
acclimate their bodies.
557
00:24:52,958 --> 00:24:55,708
But even so, to really acclimate
your body, you would have
558
00:24:55,708 --> 00:24:58,708
to be submerged in the
water for a period of time,
559
00:24:58,708 --> 00:25:00,042
not just pouring a bucket
560
00:25:00,042 --> 00:25:02,750
of cold water on your
body momentarily.
561
00:25:02,750 --> 00:25:06,292
The coldest the water could
get would be air temperature,
562
00:25:06,292 --> 00:25:08,375
room temperature,
which is likely not
563
00:25:08,375 --> 00:25:10,750
as cold as what the
Bay actually is.
564
00:25:14,833 --> 00:25:17,250
- [Laurence] Another
influential crime boss,
565
00:25:17,250 --> 00:25:20,875
Harlem's Ellsworth "Bumpy"
Johnson, is rumored to have
566
00:25:20,875 --> 00:25:25,292
provided the men a much easier
way to get to the mainland.
567
00:25:25,292 --> 00:25:27,625
(dramatic music)
568
00:25:29,542 --> 00:25:32,000
- So in 1993, another confession
569
00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:34,750
and possibly explanation
comes to light.
570
00:25:36,042 --> 00:25:38,750
On his deathbed, a man
named John Leroy Kelly
571
00:25:38,750 --> 00:25:42,500
says that he was an
associate of another mobster
572
00:25:42,500 --> 00:25:44,875
Harlem's Ellsworth
"Bumpy" Johnson.
573
00:25:44,875 --> 00:25:48,125
Kelly said that he had
been hired in the 1960s
574
00:25:48,125 --> 00:25:49,750
to abet in this escape.
575
00:25:49,750 --> 00:25:51,875
- Bumpy Johnson kind of ran
576
00:25:51,875 --> 00:25:54,792
the African American mob
in Harlem at the time.
577
00:25:55,833 --> 00:25:59,250
He was in a block that
was one block over
578
00:25:59,250 --> 00:26:00,875
and they were segregated.
579
00:26:00,875 --> 00:26:04,458
And there are stories out there
that Bumpy was very familiar
580
00:26:04,458 --> 00:26:06,458
with the escape process.
581
00:26:06,458 --> 00:26:08,708
- Kelly said that
Johnson told him
582
00:26:08,708 --> 00:26:10,750
that he had helped
in the escape.
583
00:26:10,750 --> 00:26:14,167
He says that Johnson had hired
somebody to wait in the Bay
584
00:26:14,167 --> 00:26:17,333
for them in a small
boat that was unlit,
585
00:26:17,333 --> 00:26:20,250
but painted a very bright
color of white so that it was
586
00:26:20,250 --> 00:26:23,833
as visible as possible, even
in the fog and the darkness.
587
00:26:23,833 --> 00:26:26,792
- [Laurence] A San Francisco
police officer named
588
00:26:26,792 --> 00:26:30,292
Robert Checchi corroborates
at least part of the story.
589
00:26:30,292 --> 00:26:32,542
- What Officer Checchi
had seen when he went out
590
00:26:32,542 --> 00:26:34,333
for a smoke break in
the Presidio area,
591
00:26:34,333 --> 00:26:37,625
he's standing right there
at the San Francisco Bay,
592
00:26:37,625 --> 00:26:39,333
right at the edge
there in the city,
593
00:26:39,333 --> 00:26:43,208
and he sees what he thinks
is a pristine, newer boat,
594
00:26:43,208 --> 00:26:44,708
come into San Francisco Bay.
595
00:26:44,708 --> 00:26:46,917
Running lights,
everything's going.
596
00:26:46,917 --> 00:26:49,792
He sees it shut the running
lights off, shut the engine off
597
00:26:49,792 --> 00:26:51,875
for a period of
time, 15, 20 minutes,
598
00:26:51,875 --> 00:26:53,250
something in that area.
599
00:26:53,250 --> 00:26:55,250
Then the lights go back
on, the engine starts up,
600
00:26:56,542 --> 00:26:59,292
and the boat goes back
outta San Francisco Bay.
601
00:26:59,292 --> 00:27:02,333
- [Laurence] Checchi senses
something's not quite right,
602
00:27:02,333 --> 00:27:04,375
but ignores his intuition.
603
00:27:04,375 --> 00:27:06,708
It's not until the next morning
604
00:27:06,708 --> 00:27:08,708
that he'll realize his mistake.
605
00:27:09,708 --> 00:27:11,750
- The next morning when
it hits the fan that,
606
00:27:11,750 --> 00:27:14,167
hey, we got three
escapees outta Alcatraz,
607
00:27:14,167 --> 00:27:17,250
he goes to his supervisor,
they get in touch with the FBI.
608
00:27:17,250 --> 00:27:19,708
Officer Checchi tells
him exactly what he saw.
609
00:27:19,708 --> 00:27:22,292
- The FBI claims to
follow up on this tip
610
00:27:22,292 --> 00:27:24,708
and to go right out
to that exact spot.
611
00:27:24,708 --> 00:27:26,708
But of course, even if
the boat had been there,
612
00:27:26,708 --> 00:27:28,708
it's no longer there.
613
00:27:28,708 --> 00:27:30,792
They don't follow
up any further.
614
00:27:30,792 --> 00:27:32,542
- [Laurence] Nor can
anyone corroborate
615
00:27:32,542 --> 00:27:36,250
the last, ironic chapter of
Kelly's deathbed confession.
616
00:27:36,250 --> 00:27:40,125
- In a strange and cruel
twist of fate for the inmates,
617
00:27:40,125 --> 00:27:42,917
Kelly suggests that the
fugitive's mob connections
618
00:27:42,917 --> 00:27:44,625
were what led to their deaths.
619
00:27:44,625 --> 00:27:46,958
(dramatic music)
620
00:27:46,958 --> 00:27:48,917
- These two guys,
John Leroy Kelly
621
00:27:48,917 --> 00:27:50,917
and this other
associate, they picked up
622
00:27:50,917 --> 00:27:54,083
these three escapees,
took 'em back to Seattle,
623
00:27:54,083 --> 00:27:58,167
got in a pickup truck and
drove to Yakima, Washington,
624
00:27:58,167 --> 00:28:00,875
which is just a
couple hours' ride,
625
00:28:00,875 --> 00:28:02,500
to a location where they met
626
00:28:02,500 --> 00:28:05,333
with an old bank robber
associate of Frank Morris
627
00:28:05,333 --> 00:28:08,625
and were each given
50,000 bucks in cash
628
00:28:08,625 --> 00:28:11,542
to go to Canada and disappear.
629
00:28:11,542 --> 00:28:14,500
- [Laurence] The plan, as far
as Morris and the Anglins know,
630
00:28:14,500 --> 00:28:18,208
is for Kelly to help them
cross the border into Canada.
631
00:28:18,208 --> 00:28:23,208
But as the saying goes, there's
no honor among thieves.
632
00:28:24,208 --> 00:28:26,208
- These two guys,
John Leroy Kelly
633
00:28:26,208 --> 00:28:28,542
and this other
associate are driving
634
00:28:28,542 --> 00:28:32,750
through the Snoqualmie Pass
area in Washington state.
635
00:28:32,750 --> 00:28:37,208
They pull over, they
reach under the seats
636
00:28:37,208 --> 00:28:40,375
into a toolkit, pull out
two .38s, go in the back,
637
00:28:40,375 --> 00:28:43,333
shoot all the guys,
shoot the three escapees,
638
00:28:43,333 --> 00:28:47,583
steal the money, and
then bury 'em in a hole
639
00:28:47,583 --> 00:28:49,125
that they had already dug there.
640
00:28:50,875 --> 00:28:53,458
- Kelly provides a very
detailed description
641
00:28:53,458 --> 00:28:57,292
of where the bodies can be found
in the Seattle, Washington area.
642
00:28:57,292 --> 00:28:59,958
- [Laurence] US
Marshals comb the area.
643
00:28:59,958 --> 00:29:02,917
- If you kind of
follow his description,
644
00:29:02,917 --> 00:29:05,042
it loosely brings
you to that area
645
00:29:05,042 --> 00:29:07,708
that I've been at three
or four times already
646
00:29:07,708 --> 00:29:10,167
and found the trees they
were talking about.
647
00:29:10,167 --> 00:29:12,958
- [Laurence] But no
bodies are ever found.
648
00:29:12,958 --> 00:29:15,292
- They go back to Kelly,
but he's already died.
649
00:29:15,292 --> 00:29:17,875
But the fact that
authorities listened to him
650
00:29:17,875 --> 00:29:21,042
and followed up on
his tips does suggest
651
00:29:21,042 --> 00:29:22,708
that authorities are
still open to the idea
652
00:29:22,708 --> 00:29:23,458
that authorities are
still open to the idea
653
00:29:23,708 --> 00:29:25,208
that maybe these
guys did make it,
654
00:29:25,208 --> 00:29:29,042
and maybe at least in
1993, they're still alive.
655
00:29:32,917 --> 00:29:34,208
- [Laurence] There
is little doubt
656
00:29:34,208 --> 00:29:37,833
the 1962 escape from
Alcatraz was well thought out
657
00:29:37,833 --> 00:29:40,333
and executed to near perfection.
658
00:29:40,333 --> 00:29:43,875
And if these three men did
successfully cross the water,
659
00:29:43,875 --> 00:29:48,167
they'd have to disappear
for the rest of their lives,
660
00:29:48,167 --> 00:29:51,167
and that might be the most
difficult part of all.
661
00:29:53,292 --> 00:29:55,958
- I always call
Frank Morris the kind
662
00:29:55,958 --> 00:29:58,125
of neglected Alcatraz escapee
663
00:29:58,125 --> 00:30:01,208
because he really didn't
have any close family
664
00:30:01,208 --> 00:30:02,583
that knew him.
665
00:30:02,583 --> 00:30:05,250
- So it kind of makes sense
that he may have been just able
666
00:30:05,250 --> 00:30:07,417
to slip away and never
be heard from again.
667
00:30:09,042 --> 00:30:11,792
- [Laurence] That may not be so
easy for the Anglin brothers.
668
00:30:12,875 --> 00:30:15,042
- John and Clarence
Anglin, however,
669
00:30:15,042 --> 00:30:17,875
are born into a big,
loving family.
670
00:30:17,875 --> 00:30:20,292
Lots of siblings, lots
of extended family.
671
00:30:21,500 --> 00:30:23,958
- They used to get in trouble
a lot and on occasion,
672
00:30:23,958 --> 00:30:26,458
they'd robb convenience
stores or grocery stores.
673
00:30:26,458 --> 00:30:29,750
- They end up in jail in 1958
on a bank robbery charge,
674
00:30:29,750 --> 00:30:31,750
but they don't wanna be there
675
00:30:31,750 --> 00:30:35,375
and then they're smart guys,
so they devise a way to escape.
676
00:30:35,375 --> 00:30:38,708
- Whenever they got arrested,
they'd always tried
677
00:30:38,708 --> 00:30:40,417
to figure out how to escape.
678
00:30:40,417 --> 00:30:44,375
- [Laurence] But in 1961, after
one escape attempt too many,
679
00:30:44,375 --> 00:30:48,875
the Anglins earned themselves
a ticket to the rock.
680
00:30:48,875 --> 00:30:51,000
- Even as John and Clarence
are bouncing their way
681
00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:53,042
through the prison system
and eventually ending up
682
00:30:53,042 --> 00:30:55,500
at Alcatraz, they never
forget where they came from.
683
00:30:58,917 --> 00:31:01,333
- When you look at every
single escape case,
684
00:31:01,333 --> 00:31:05,125
not just this one, investigators
go to family first.
685
00:31:05,125 --> 00:31:09,208
Escapees, it's very hard for
them not to get in contact
686
00:31:09,208 --> 00:31:11,000
with their previous family.
687
00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:13,375
- [Laurence] And that's
exactly what happened,
688
00:31:14,375 --> 00:31:17,167
according to a childhood
friend of the Anglin brothers.
689
00:31:18,167 --> 00:31:21,792
- According to Fred Brizzi,
he grew up with the Anglins
690
00:31:21,792 --> 00:31:23,917
as a kid, and they
used to play together
691
00:31:23,917 --> 00:31:25,542
and they would tow themselves
692
00:31:25,542 --> 00:31:29,375
behind boats on the river
down in Georgia and Florida.
693
00:31:29,375 --> 00:31:34,375
He was a pilot and he used
to run loads of marijuana
694
00:31:34,375 --> 00:31:37,417
outta South America, central
America, Mexico, up to the US.
695
00:31:38,500 --> 00:31:40,167
- To a lot of his friends,
696
00:31:40,167 --> 00:31:42,542
Brizzi always talks about
flying to different parts
697
00:31:42,542 --> 00:31:44,417
of the globe, but one
of his favorite places
698
00:31:44,417 --> 00:31:47,917
that he enjoys visiting the
most is the country of Brazil,
699
00:31:48,875 --> 00:31:52,167
where his buddies, John and
Clarence Anglin are hiding out.
700
00:31:53,458 --> 00:31:56,208
- [Laurence] Supposedly, the
brother's first indirect contact
701
00:31:56,208 --> 00:31:59,708
with the rest of the family
comes in 1992, 30 years
702
00:31:59,708 --> 00:32:04,833
after the escape, with Brizzi
acting as the go-between.
703
00:32:04,833 --> 00:32:07,208
- Brizzi contacts
the Anglins' mother
704
00:32:07,208 --> 00:32:09,375
and says that her
sons came to him
705
00:32:09,375 --> 00:32:11,458
and that he was the
one who told them,
706
00:32:11,458 --> 00:32:13,917
go to Brazil, you can
make a life there,
707
00:32:13,917 --> 00:32:16,875
and that he can confirm
that they indeed
708
00:32:16,875 --> 00:32:19,000
did make it out
of Alcatraz alive.
709
00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:21,292
(dramatic music)
710
00:32:24,292 --> 00:32:28,125
- Imagine the emotions
of the mother knowing
711
00:32:28,125 --> 00:32:31,875
that her two boys,
who are part of one
712
00:32:31,875 --> 00:32:33,417
of the most infamous
prison scapes in all
713
00:32:33,417 --> 00:32:37,208
of American history,
are in Brazil,
714
00:32:37,208 --> 00:32:40,333
while the FBI is telling her
that they're both actually dead.
715
00:32:42,000 --> 00:32:44,750
- As proof for
Mrs. Anglin to say
716
00:32:44,750 --> 00:32:46,375
that he's not just
making this up,
717
00:32:46,375 --> 00:32:50,083
he brings along a
photograph of her sons.
718
00:32:50,083 --> 00:32:51,667
It's not the best quality photo.
719
00:32:51,667 --> 00:32:54,125
It's grainy, and the
men have facial hair,
720
00:32:54,125 --> 00:32:55,583
and they look a
little unfamiliar.
721
00:32:55,583 --> 00:32:58,375
But for a woman who is
desperate to see proof
722
00:32:58,375 --> 00:33:00,500
of life of her children,
it's pretty good.
723
00:33:01,625 --> 00:33:03,792
- [Laurence] Brizzi
supposedly tells Mrs. Anglin
724
00:33:03,792 --> 00:33:07,208
that John and Clarence are
now running a farm in Brazil.
725
00:33:09,583 --> 00:33:12,875
In the last few years, family
members have even gone down
726
00:33:12,875 --> 00:33:15,292
to Rio to follow the trail
727
00:33:15,292 --> 00:33:18,167
and locate the
long lost brothers.
728
00:33:18,167 --> 00:33:20,417
- Even though the picture's
several decades old,
729
00:33:20,417 --> 00:33:23,417
you could still match kind
of the geographical area
730
00:33:23,417 --> 00:33:25,500
and they pretty
much found the area
731
00:33:25,500 --> 00:33:28,417
that they believed the
photos was were taken in,
732
00:33:28,417 --> 00:33:30,250
and there is a large farm there.
733
00:33:31,667 --> 00:33:34,292
- The family hires a local
guide to help them through town
734
00:33:34,292 --> 00:33:36,042
and as they're going
through the town,
735
00:33:36,042 --> 00:33:38,208
they start asking
locals whether or not
736
00:33:38,208 --> 00:33:40,083
they'd seen guys like
John and Clarence
737
00:33:40,083 --> 00:33:41,417
come through that area.
738
00:33:42,333 --> 00:33:44,625
- What they do find is stories.
739
00:33:44,625 --> 00:33:47,250
They find that people who
live in this region say,
740
00:33:47,250 --> 00:33:49,500
"Oh yeah, there were
these three American guys
741
00:33:49,500 --> 00:33:51,375
who showed up in
the early 1960s.
742
00:33:51,375 --> 00:33:54,083
They kind of kept to themselves,
but they were friendly
743
00:33:54,083 --> 00:33:57,083
and they started
living in this cave."
744
00:33:57,083 --> 00:33:58,875
- It's rumored that
some of the locals
745
00:33:58,875 --> 00:34:02,375
in the town are curious as to
what the men's intentions are.
746
00:34:02,375 --> 00:34:04,042
So the local town
sheriff heads up
747
00:34:04,042 --> 00:34:06,542
to the cave formation
to meet with the men.
748
00:34:06,542 --> 00:34:08,542
The men put him at
ease and they actually
749
00:34:08,542 --> 00:34:10,208
end up becoming friends
with the sheriff
750
00:34:10,208 --> 00:34:12,000
and he goes out of his
way to provide them
751
00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:13,708
with some food and
allows 'em to stay.
752
00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:17,250
- [Laurence] It's a
tantalizing clue,
753
00:34:17,250 --> 00:34:20,125
but that's where
the trail goes cold.
754
00:34:20,125 --> 00:34:24,250
Several weeks later, the
men apparently move on,
755
00:34:24,250 --> 00:34:27,958
leaving behind a single
photograph as possible proof
756
00:34:27,958 --> 00:34:30,583
of their new life in Brazil.
757
00:34:30,583 --> 00:34:31,667
- They never find them.
758
00:34:32,708 --> 00:34:35,708
In 2020, however, the
family takes this photograph
759
00:34:35,708 --> 00:34:38,875
that they've been holding
onto to a facility
760
00:34:38,875 --> 00:34:41,083
where they do a
kind of analysis.
761
00:34:42,042 --> 00:34:43,750
- [Laurence] The facial
structure of the men
762
00:34:43,750 --> 00:34:45,708
in the photograph is analyzed,
763
00:34:45,708 --> 00:34:49,542
comparing it with verified
photos of the Anglins.
764
00:34:49,542 --> 00:34:51,667
- This software
confirms that, yes,
765
00:34:51,667 --> 00:34:54,625
the men in the photo are indeed
John and Clarence Anglin.
766
00:34:58,375 --> 00:35:01,500
However, authorities
are much less convinced
767
00:35:01,500 --> 00:35:05,542
that this photograph
actually is the Anglins.
768
00:35:05,542 --> 00:35:07,792
- Unfortunately,
it wasn't the best.
769
00:35:07,792 --> 00:35:09,500
That Polaroid picture,
770
00:35:09,500 --> 00:35:14,417
one of the guys' head is turned
slightly and sunglasses are on.
771
00:35:14,417 --> 00:35:16,417
So we're dealing with something
772
00:35:16,417 --> 00:35:18,083
that's not a hundred
percent science.
773
00:35:18,083 --> 00:35:19,417
It's not like DNA,
774
00:35:19,417 --> 00:35:22,042
but at least it gives
us enough information
775
00:35:22,042 --> 00:35:25,083
to proceed on the
particular lead.
776
00:35:25,083 --> 00:35:27,208
- Let's remember that
this story originates
777
00:35:27,208 --> 00:35:29,333
with Fred Brizzi.
778
00:35:29,333 --> 00:35:31,583
- He's a conman, he's a convict.
779
00:35:31,583 --> 00:35:34,333
You have to take everything
he says with a grain of salt.
780
00:35:34,333 --> 00:35:37,208
- [Laurence] Without
more conclusive proof,
781
00:35:37,208 --> 00:35:41,375
the FBI refuses to revise
their original assessment
782
00:35:41,375 --> 00:35:43,458
that the escapees
died in the water.
783
00:35:43,458 --> 00:35:46,375
- It's still an active case
because they're still calling me
784
00:35:46,375 --> 00:35:47,958
and asking me for some
historical information
785
00:35:47,958 --> 00:35:49,208
on the case.
786
00:35:49,208 --> 00:35:50,833
- There's no doubt that the FBI
787
00:35:50,833 --> 00:35:52,917
and the US Marshals have
received numerous reports
788
00:35:52,917 --> 00:35:55,542
over the years, and they're
going to follow them all.
789
00:36:00,500 --> 00:36:03,542
- [Laurence] Decades after
the escape from Alcatraz,
790
00:36:03,542 --> 00:36:06,917
the US Marshals continue
to follow up on leads.
791
00:36:06,917 --> 00:36:09,500
In 2013, they get a call
792
00:36:09,500 --> 00:36:11,958
from the San Francisco
Police Department
793
00:36:11,958 --> 00:36:13,750
with a new development.
794
00:36:13,750 --> 00:36:16,208
- The San Francisco Police
Department gets a letter
795
00:36:16,208 --> 00:36:17,542
and the person who opens it
796
00:36:17,542 --> 00:36:19,333
cannot believe what
they're reading.
797
00:36:19,333 --> 00:36:21,375
It is a long, handwritten letter
798
00:36:21,375 --> 00:36:23,958
signed by none other
than John Anglin.
799
00:36:23,958 --> 00:36:27,458
- [Laurence] The letter begins,
"My name is John Anglin.
800
00:36:27,458 --> 00:36:30,708
I escaped from
Alcatraz in June 1962
801
00:36:30,708 --> 00:36:33,375
with my brother Clarence
and Frank Morris.
802
00:36:33,375 --> 00:36:36,708
I am 83 years old
and in bad shape."
803
00:36:36,708 --> 00:36:39,958
- He indicates that he's
the only one alive still,
804
00:36:39,958 --> 00:36:41,625
but that all three made it.
805
00:36:41,625 --> 00:36:43,292
- It says that since that night,
806
00:36:43,292 --> 00:36:45,917
they've been living out
their lives pretty quietly
807
00:36:45,917 --> 00:36:47,708
in Minot, North Dakota.
808
00:36:47,708 --> 00:36:49,875
(dramatic music)
809
00:36:53,542 --> 00:36:56,375
If the letter is real,
it's an incredible look
810
00:36:56,375 --> 00:36:59,875
into what these men had
been up to since 1962.
811
00:36:59,875 --> 00:37:01,458
It also includes the information
812
00:37:01,458 --> 00:37:04,625
that Frank Morris died in 2008.
813
00:37:05,708 --> 00:37:09,375
- [Laurence] The letter also
says Clarence Anglin died
814
00:37:09,375 --> 00:37:13,833
in 2011, making John
the sole survivor.
815
00:37:13,833 --> 00:37:17,542
- This letter, however, is not
a confession or a check-in.
816
00:37:17,542 --> 00:37:20,375
- The purpose of this
letter is John wants
817
00:37:20,375 --> 00:37:23,542
to trade medical care
for a confession.
818
00:37:23,542 --> 00:37:26,375
- It's not that unusual when
I'm reading that letter.
819
00:37:26,375 --> 00:37:29,792
We have had people turn
themselves in for medical help.
820
00:37:29,792 --> 00:37:32,333
It's happened in the
past quite a bit.
821
00:37:32,333 --> 00:37:34,333
- He's not kidding
about these terms.
822
00:37:34,333 --> 00:37:37,875
He says that he wants the
SFPD to announce on TV
823
00:37:37,875 --> 00:37:41,292
that he'll get just a year's
sentence and medical care,
824
00:37:41,292 --> 00:37:43,167
and if they do that,
he'll write back
825
00:37:43,167 --> 00:37:45,333
and disclose his whereabouts.
826
00:37:45,333 --> 00:37:47,292
- [Laurence] If
authentic, the letter
827
00:37:47,292 --> 00:37:49,208
is the first public contact
828
00:37:49,208 --> 00:37:52,458
from any of the three
men since the escape.
829
00:37:52,458 --> 00:37:56,167
But when US Marshals
investigate the letter further,
830
00:37:56,167 --> 00:37:58,375
they have misgivings.
831
00:37:58,375 --> 00:38:00,958
- Whether the letter's
legitimate or not,
832
00:38:00,958 --> 00:38:04,708
we've done all the criminal
analysis we can on it.
833
00:38:04,708 --> 00:38:08,208
The letter was inconclusive
from the DNA perspective.
834
00:38:08,208 --> 00:38:11,292
- The letter is written
by a very shaky hand
835
00:38:11,292 --> 00:38:13,583
and some parts are
impossible to read.
836
00:38:13,583 --> 00:38:16,625
Handwriting analysis of
this text against letters
837
00:38:16,625 --> 00:38:20,125
that they had from their time
at Alcatraz is inconclusive.
838
00:38:20,125 --> 00:38:23,042
- Not to say that John couldn't
have had somebody else
839
00:38:23,042 --> 00:38:25,542
write it for him, and we've
come up with the fact
840
00:38:25,542 --> 00:38:28,667
that we can't corroborate any of
that information in the letter.
841
00:38:28,667 --> 00:38:33,208
So to me, it's just
another great mystery
842
00:38:33,208 --> 00:38:36,083
of this particular case
that we've come across
843
00:38:36,083 --> 00:38:37,958
so many times in
this investigation.
844
00:38:39,208 --> 00:38:40,875
- [Laurence] Strongly
suspecting a hoax,
845
00:38:40,875 --> 00:38:43,458
US Marshals choose
not to take the author
846
00:38:43,458 --> 00:38:45,083
of the letter up on his offer.
847
00:38:46,083 --> 00:38:48,375
- Whether or not this
letter was actually written
848
00:38:48,375 --> 00:38:49,833
by John Anglin,
849
00:38:49,833 --> 00:38:51,667
even if these men
still were alive,
850
00:38:51,667 --> 00:38:53,542
they'd right now be
in their nineties.
851
00:38:54,708 --> 00:38:57,500
- [Laurence] But
besides this letter,
852
00:38:57,500 --> 00:39:00,667
there have always been
rumors dating back many years
853
00:39:00,667 --> 00:39:03,250
that could support the
theory that the Anglins
854
00:39:03,250 --> 00:39:06,250
have been living in the
US the entire time.
855
00:39:06,250 --> 00:39:08,708
- There are members of the
Anglin family, including some
856
00:39:08,708 --> 00:39:10,542
of their sisters who
suspect that John
857
00:39:10,542 --> 00:39:12,250
and Clarence had
been reaching out
858
00:39:12,250 --> 00:39:14,292
to the family for some time.
859
00:39:14,292 --> 00:39:15,833
- There's lore that John
860
00:39:15,833 --> 00:39:17,833
and Clarence may have
even made a personal
861
00:39:17,833 --> 00:39:20,458
appearance at their
mother's funeral.
862
00:39:20,458 --> 00:39:22,583
- There are two odd
looking characters
863
00:39:22,583 --> 00:39:24,417
who show up at the
Florida funeral.
864
00:39:24,417 --> 00:39:26,375
It's two men dressed as women.
865
00:39:26,375 --> 00:39:28,208
- Supposedly could
have been the Anglin
866
00:39:28,208 --> 00:39:30,333
brothers dressed as women.
867
00:39:30,333 --> 00:39:32,708
That's never been able
to be corroborated.
868
00:39:33,750 --> 00:39:35,875
- Later on, when the
Anglin brothers' father
869
00:39:35,875 --> 00:39:37,208
George passed away,
870
00:39:37,208 --> 00:39:39,792
the same situation happens
when two strangers show up,
871
00:39:39,792 --> 00:39:42,583
but this time with long beards
and slip into the viewing.
872
00:39:42,583 --> 00:39:44,792
They spend just a few
moments at the casket,
873
00:39:44,792 --> 00:39:47,458
shed a few tears, and then leave
874
00:39:47,458 --> 00:39:49,167
without acknowledging
anyone there.
875
00:39:50,208 --> 00:39:52,875
- I can tell you from the
Marshal Service perspective,
876
00:39:52,875 --> 00:39:55,417
we might have done some
spot surveillance on 'em
877
00:39:55,417 --> 00:39:58,542
for whatever reason,
whether an anniversary date,
878
00:39:58,542 --> 00:40:00,042
family member passing away.
879
00:40:01,583 --> 00:40:04,583
Hours of surveillance,
nothing ever turned up.
880
00:40:04,583 --> 00:40:06,167
- [Laurence] Without
further evidence,
881
00:40:06,167 --> 00:40:07,833
it's impossible to
say conclusively
882
00:40:08,833 --> 00:40:10,958
whether the Anglins really
did live out the rest
883
00:40:10,958 --> 00:40:14,708
of their lives in the United
States or anywhere else.
884
00:40:14,708 --> 00:40:16,833
- This is a fun story
to think about, right?
885
00:40:16,833 --> 00:40:20,042
I mean, here you have
this inescapable fortress,
886
00:40:20,042 --> 00:40:21,875
this supermax prison,
887
00:40:21,875 --> 00:40:24,917
and here you have these three
guys who figured a way out.
888
00:40:24,917 --> 00:40:27,750
- They've bounced in and out
of prisons their whole life,
889
00:40:27,750 --> 00:40:30,958
institutions, but they
used what they've got.
890
00:40:30,958 --> 00:40:33,583
Their smarts, whatever they
can pick up around the prison,
891
00:40:33,583 --> 00:40:36,583
they fight the law
and maybe they won.
892
00:40:36,583 --> 00:40:39,792
- No bodies have
ever been produced.
893
00:40:39,792 --> 00:40:43,500
No evidence of their death
has ever been produced.
894
00:40:44,708 --> 00:40:47,042
- It's still one of the great
mysteries of the 20th century
895
00:40:47,042 --> 00:40:48,583
and everybody gloms onto it
896
00:40:48,583 --> 00:40:51,958
because they love
when an underdog wins.
897
00:40:55,708 --> 00:40:59,417
- The US Marshal Service
plans to keep the case open
898
00:40:59,417 --> 00:41:02,208
until they can definitively
say the escapees
899
00:41:02,208 --> 00:41:05,042
are dead or in custody.
900
00:41:05,042 --> 00:41:06,417
It's their way of warning
901
00:41:06,417 --> 00:41:08,500
anyone else thinking
of escaping prison
902
00:41:08,500 --> 00:41:12,250
that the marshals
will never give up.
903
00:41:12,250 --> 00:41:13,667
I'm Laurence Fishburne.
904
00:41:13,667 --> 00:41:17,375
Thank you for watching
"History's Greatest Mysteries".
905
00:41:17,375 --> 00:41:19,750
(dramatic music)
74209
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.