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Evidently, the letter was so compelling that they decided to reopen the investigation 40 years after they had closed it. The letter was sent to the Richmond station of the San Francisco Police Department in 2013, reports CBS News, but had not hitherto been made public; recently, though, San Francisco Bay Area CBS station KPIX 5 acquired it from an anonymous source and now its sparking all sorts of theories and speculation. / CBS News. Can you imagine how he felt in that moment, after all those months of planning? What is sort of interesting, though, is this: The Anglin brothers were David Widners uncles and although Widner told CBS News in a follow-up report, I really havent come to a conclusion whether I believe that its John reaching out or not, he also noted that for a number of years following the escape, his grandmother would randomly receive roses. Marshals, which is the sole agency investigating the case today, says the FBI lab examined theletterfor fingerprints and DNA, and the handwriting. The investigation had been put to bed almost 40 years ago. Letter possibly from famous Alcatraz escapee says they survived escape and that he lived in North Dakota for eight years.https://t.co/yFVYYmzfNn. Someone claiming to be John Anglin wrote to 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved, Mickey Cohen and Ellsworth Bumpy Johnson. After roughly six months of plotting and effort, the men were ready to ruin the prisons reputation. I have cancer. This is no joke, the letter reads. My brother died in 2011. The daring escape was immortalized in the 1979 film Escape From Alcatraz, which starred Fred Ward as John Anglin, Jack Thibeau as Clarence Anglinand Clint Eastwood as Frank Morris. 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. From there, they were able to launch their raft. The letter, reportedly written by John Anglin (who was 83 at the time), stated that Morris and the brothers barely made it to shore on the night of their escape. Quietly, they tiptoed to the roofs edge and then shimmied down 50 feet of pipes. I have cancer. In it, Chief Justice John Roberts says he wont testify At the time of the escape, Jolene Babyak was 15 years old living on Alcatraz. Pretty clever. Based on the information gathered from the scene, as well as from West, officials discovered that the Anglins and Morris had gained entry to the roof via another ventilator shaft, then shimmied down to ground level. A man claims three Alcatraz prisoners barely survived a 1962 escape and that hes one of them. In just under two years time, the Anglins and an accomplice named Frank Morris would put that reputation to the test. I have cancer. The fate of the three men has remained unknown for over half a century, so this letter could be big news, indeed. A view of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in the 1930s when it was America's premier maximum-security prison. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Also sharing a wall with one of the trio was Allen West, who came to Alcatraz in 1957 after he tried to escape from a prison in Florida. The night guards apparently didnt notice the replacements when they did their rounds. The bureau turned the case over to the U.S. The Anglin brothers were reportedly inseparable, and the one thing they could not (or chose not) escape was each other. The mystery of Alcatraz escaped prisoners, How Artificial Intelligence is Changing the Workplace, Trump sees 'tremendous increase' in UK-US trade. I lived in Seattle for most of my years after the escape. Babyak was 15 years old and livingon the island with her familywhen the men broke free. The men were gone, which triggered prison officials to reach out to the FBIs San Francisco office. Within days, letters sealed in rubber were found, along with paddle-like pieces of wood and pieces of rubber inner tube in the water. January 24, 2018 at 4:16 p.m. EST. He, John, said he was 83 and suffering from cancer. The long hallway was completely unguarded, and the men were free to climb the bars and pipes to the roof at their leisure. (FBI/U.S. Meghan Markle's father says he is 'open to any kind of conversation' to repair his Practising for Charles' big day! From there, the trail grew cold. Merry Christmas.. They got off the island. But he is not sure if they lived through the escape. John Anglin Reuters Frank Lee Morris Reuters [Alcatraz officials] were not willing to . It was a quadfecta if there is such a thing (there isnt), or perhaps even a perfect storm. But the Anglins and Morris would have had to endure considerable adversity. There have been no confirmed siting of the trio since. Marshals Servicewrites: "There is absolutely no reason to believe that any of them would have changed their lifestyle and became completely law abiding citizens after this escape.". There, they picked cherries, and learned how to swim in the strong and frigid waters of the great lakes. The guy was a prison Houdini. The letter, sent to police in 2013 and recently obtained by local CBS affiliate KPIX, was from a man claiming to be John Anglin. He, John, said he was 83 and suffering from cancer. Marshal Service still keeps the case active and reacts to tips when and where warranted. According to CBS, the letter read: My name is John Anglin. Im 83 years old and in bad shape. Accordingly, he tried to strike a deal: Hed turn himself in if he could be guaranteed a lenient sentence and medical attention. My name is John Anglin. The FBI lab examined the letters handwriting for fingerprints and DNA, but the results were inconclusive, the U.S. The Anglins and Morris made it as far as Seattle, he said, before the other men involved betrayed and murdered them. The former prison is now a popular San Francisco tourist site, with more than a million tourists each year. (To cover the din of their work, Morris played an accordion.) It was West who got the ball rolling when he came across some old saw blades that were apparently abandoned. All results came back inconclusive. From this material they created dummy heads. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The writer also claimed Morris died in 2008 and Clarence Anglin died in 2011. Authorities could not find any bodies where the man claimed they would be buried. Once they found their opening, they re-secured the rivet using a bolt fashioned out of soap. Behind the vent was an unmanned utility corridor that offered a path to the roof of their cell block. If the three did survive these treacherous waters, as the letter claims, they would have outlived the prison. Their typical robbery took place at banks and establishments that were closed to make sure they didnt have to use a weapon. The US Marshals Service took jurisdiction of the case in 1978 and considers it still open. Legend has it that no one ever successfully escaped the grim, federalisland prison in San Francisco Bay, shuttered in the early 1960s after three decades of service. I escape (sic)from Alcatraz in June 1962 with my brother Clarence and Frank Morris. In 1963, J. Campbell Bruce published Escape from Alcatraz, a history of the prison and those who had attempted to flee it, including Morris and the Anglins. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, The screen for King Charles' coronation anointing is revealed, Biden jokes about key political figures at WH Correspondence Dinner, Braverman: People crossing Channel are 'at odds with British values', Hundreds of Household Division members rehearse for coronation, Women's rights activists and pro-trans campaigners separated, Terrifying moment bird strikes plane carrying 184 passengers onboard, Ukraine drone strike hits major fuel depot in port Sevastopol, Moment large saltwater crocodile snatches pet dog off beach in QLD, Jerry Springer hosts record-setting porn star Annabel Chong in 1995, Doctor slams Laurence Fox for 'spewing out biased views', Australian tourist allegedly spits in the face of a Java Imam, 'You motherf***ers don't understand': Bam Margera details 'turmoil'. One of the reasons we know so much about this case is West. The U.S. (NCD). He also pulled off several escapes from other correctional facilities in the Eastern United States. Marshal Michael Dyke told the Today show: Obviously not. It claims brothers John and Clarence Anglin along with inmate Frank Morris lived into old age after escaping the prison half a century ago. In 2011, a National Geographic special claimed that the FBI had found one suspicious crime following the escape in nearby Marin County: A blue Chevrolet had been stolen, and later had a near-accident on the road. Frank Lee Morris was one of those prisoners with special skills. Citing separation of powers concerns, Roberts noted how rare it is for chief justices to testify / CBS San Francisco. However, one thing is certain: They initiated a daring escape from a prison deemed inescapable, and filled the pages of history with their brilliant plan and craftsmanship. January 25, 2018 / 8:20 AM Could John or Clarence Anglin have been sending them? Only the worst criminals were sent toAlcatraz. The men were able to get out of their cells, but getting out of the cell block was a different story. The men shaved everyday, collected the shaving cream mixed with hair, and then blended it together with toilet paper and soap. I have cancer. It wasnt the most sanitary of methods, but it got the job done. The author says Clarence Anglin died in 2008 and that Morris died in 2005. Donning their makeshift life preservers and fashioned wood paddles, the three men hopped into their 6 x 14 rubber raft, and braved the frigid waters of the San Francisco Bay. The fate of three particular inmates, however, remains a mystery to this day Its one mystery wed all like to solve.". By Amy B Wang. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. The three men are still listed as fugitives, according to the marshals. Marshal Service, however, took jurisdiction of all federal escapes in 1978 and considers the case an open one. I escape from Alcatrazin June 1962 with my brother Clarence and Frank Morris. The US Marshals Service has committed to finding the men until they find credible evidence as to their fate, or the men turn 99 years old. It is. Alfred likely knew as much or as little as anyone else, yet when his body was exhumed it showed no signs of physical abuse. O'Keefe said that because ofthe high popularity of the escape, the service receives many leads, the vast majority of which "have been thoroughly investigated and subsequently ruled out.". While the noise was reported as being heard by the guards, they didnt investigate because it wasnt followed by any other noises. Morris arrived at Alcatraz in 1960, and later that year John became an inmate. According to theletter, Frank died in 2008 and John's brother died three years later. Considering how careful the men would have had to be for the remainder of their lives, keeping the rest of the family at arms length and being cautious with their words and actions, they would have had to devote much of their energy to never making a mistake. He reached a San Francisco beach in water colder than what the three men would have experiencedand did it naked, no less. The men may have made it after all. Brizzi told Widner that they were John and Clarence. They set up a secret workshop on the top of their cells, where they built and hid what they needed to escape. Prison guards found dummy heads made of plaster, paint and human hair in the cells the next morning. The Anglins were caught and arrested just five days later in Ohio, and all three went to prison. They were meticulous, replacing every fallen grain of rubble with a cardboard, or toilet paper filler painted the same color. Their bodies were never found. It reopened as a maximum-security facility on July 1, 1934. Yes we all made it that night but barely! The prison was in desperate need of repairs and renovations, but none ever came. Despite the new age-progressed images of the men who would be in their 90s if they are still alive, the marshals have not made any new comments about the case, according to Today.. Unfortunately, cement has the pesky tendency to harden. I escape [sic] from Alcatraz in June 1962 with my brother Clarence and Frank Morris, it reads. The nephew of John and Clarence Anglin told CBS that his grandmother used to receive roses with John and Clarence's signature on the cards several years after the escape. Frank passed away in October 2005. The men detached the ventilation screens, removed their makeshift wall, and shimmied through the holes into the adjacent corridor. January 22, 2018 / 11:49 PM In reality, the four men went to extreme efforts to create dummies that were very convincing. Hair swept up from the barbershop completed the illusion. Only three of them could make it out their cells! Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. The U.S. Robbery was their way of life, and this built them up quite a RAP sheet and landed them in and out of federal prison during their late adolescence and early adult lives. Together they would form a partnership that pulled off one of the most daring prison escapes in American history, a story that is told to the over 1.4 million visitors that visit the prison each year. Unfortunately, there arent many known handwriting samples of the Anglin brothers. "It's interesting, I mean it's obviously a very famous case here in San Francisco," said KPIX 5 Security Analyst Jeff Harp. January 26, 201800H:40GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME, John Anglin, Frank Anglin, and Frank Morris before their escape, by Kathy DiNuzzo and Biodun Iginla, BBC News, San Francisco. The distance from Alcatraz to Angel Island is well over a mile, which would make for a difficult trip in the cold current of the San Francisco Bay. According to the letter, John Anglin lived in Seattle for most of his life and spent eight years in North Dakota. Both had also tried to run from chain gangs. I escape [sic] from Alcatraz in June 1962 with my brother Clarence and Frank Morris. First published on January 22, 2018 / 11:49 PM. "They talked about the grass being greener on the other side," she said. KIRO 7 News Seattle facebook feed(Opens a new window), KIRO 7 News Seattle twitter feed(Opens a new window), KIRO 7 News Seattle youtube feed(Opens a new window), Multiple-vehicle collision completely blocks westbound I-90 near Issaquah, Man accused of raping same woman he was convicted of assaulting 5 years ago, Seattle Kraken defeat Colorado Avalanche in Game 7 of Round 1 of Stanley Cup playoffs, Washington State Patrol responds to 5-car wrong-way crash in Milton, 2 injured in Pierce County crash after driver fails to yield for red light. "Handwriting samples of all three escapees, John Anglin, Clarence Anglin and Frank Morris, were compared to the anonymous letter, and the results were deemed 'inconclusive,'" said a statement from the US Marshals Service. . Between the four of them, they managed to acquire over 50 raincoats that had an unlikely purpose: They were going to build a raft. However, CBS News reports that we dont know whether or not the letter is authentic. The story of Gary Tison's fateful final escape from those who were there, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The FBI dedicates a page to the escape on its website. They used spoons, a saw, and even pieces from an old vacuum cleaners motor to create chisels. It fell under use of the U.S. military beginning in the 1850s, at which point a fortress and a lighthouse were built on it; however, although it was originally meant as a defensive base, by the latter part of the decade, it had become a military prison. His grave is in Argentina under another name. After all, it had to be installed somehow, didnt it? They plan to do so until all three men pass what would be their 99th birthdays. WOLF: The Supreme Court sent a letter, signed by all nine justices, to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Handwriting samples of all three escapees, John Anglin, Clarence Anglin and Frank Morris, were compared to the anonymous letter, and the results were deemed inconclusive,' said a statement from the US Marshals Service. "He's not given to rash violence. The Anglins took the initiative on this project and managed to produce a paper mache using several materials. This is no joke.. "I escape from Alcatraz in June 1962 West was stuck. There, the escapees had the privacy to work on the other major part of their plan: constructing a raft and life preservers. The doppelgngers were convincing enough to fool the guards the evening of June 11, 1962. Im 83 years old and in bad shape. The note only adds to the speculation and makes us wonder that if law enforcement was so sure of their original conclusion. Both subjects in the Brazil photo have short arms. KPIX 5 exclusively obtained it from asource. In 2014, Dutch scientists, using computer models to reveal that it was possible the men could have survived, recreated the escape and made it to land successfully. Heavy handwriting analysis only produced inconclusive results when compared to the known handwriting samples from all three escapees. Relative Of Escaped Alcatraz Inmates Speaks Out About Letter, 55 Years Later, Escape From Alcatraz Result Still A Mystery, Oakland Mayor Schaaf Calls New Sanctuary Cities Threat 'Un-American', San Francisco Replaces Columbus Day With Indigenous Peoples Day, Public File for KBCW-TV / KBCW 44 Cable 12. In order to fit four men, the raft was going to have to be big, and the seams needed to hold to keep them out of the water with conditions rife for drowning. So in 1960, prison officials who were wary of their determination to regain freedom decided to send the brothers to the one place in the country that had proven to be completely escape-proof: Alcatraz, a fortified island in San Francisco. April 25, 2023. I escaped from Alcatraz in June 1962 with my (Alcatraz itself closed in 1963, not because its reputation as an escape-proof purgatory diminished but because its upkeep became too expensive to sustain.) ", Today, Alcatraz is a museum and popular tourist destination. I escape from Alcatraz in June 1962 with my Brother Clarence and Frank Morris. The government agency joined the Bureau of Prisons and the Coast Guard to mount a massive investigation. They shimmied down a smokestack, climbed over a fence and made their way to the northeast shore where they launched a raft made of raincoats, the FBI said. I escape from Alcatraz in June 1962 with my brother Clarence and Frank Morris. Eventually, John and Clarence ended up at Leavenworth, a penitentiary in Kansas, where Clarence attempted to make a break for it by trying to smuggle himself out in two enormous bread boxes; John likely assisted him. The original FBI investigation concluded the men drowned after they recovered a lone rain jacket, used as a makeshift life preserver and pieces of a wooden paddle. Pipes were rusted and leaked, walls were eroded from pipes leaking salt water, and seals to vents were eaten away by salt water in the air. Afterall, they needed to be in the ducts and vents for extended periods of time. Marshals Service). Known as an end of the line destination for criminals serving long stretches, Alcatraz saw at least 14 escape attempts involving 36 prisoners. The writer tries to make a deal with authorities, saying: "If you announce on TV that I will be promised to just go to jail for no more than a year and get medical attention I will write back to let you know exactly where I am. At this time, there are no leads stemming from the 2013 anonymous letter.