Escape from Alcatraz

Where?

The escape from Alcatraz on June 11, 1962, is one of the most famous prison escapes in American history. Alcatraz was a federal maximum-security prison located on an island in San Francisco Bay, and it was known for its reputation as an inescapable prison due to its remote location and the treacherous waters surrounding it.

Who?

• Frank Lee Morris: He was first arrested in his late teens for possesion of narcotics and armed robbery. He spent time in Florida and Georgia and escaped from the Louisiana State Penitentiary. He was captured a year later, and was sent to Alcatraz on January 20, 1960.
• John and Clarence Anglin: The brothers began robbing banks and other establishments as a team in the early 1950s, usually targeting businesses that were closed, to ensure that no one got injured. After multiple attempts to escape from the Atlanta Penitentiary, they were sent to Alcatraz. John arrived on October 24, 1960, and Clarence on January 16, 1961.
• Allen West: He was imprisoned for car theft in 1955, first at Atlanta Penitentiary, then at Florida State Prison. After an escape attempt from the Florida facility, he was transferred to Alcatraz in 1957.

How?

On the night of June 11, 1962, the three inmates had been planning their escape for months. Using improvised tools, they chiseled away the vent openings at the back of their cells, which led to an unguarded utility corridor. From there, they climbed to the roof and descended to the ground level. To stay unnoticed, they created life vests and a makeshift inflatable raft using raincoats.

The Aftermath

The FBI conducted an extensive manhunt for the escapees, but no conclusive evidence of their fate was ever found. It is widely believed that the three men likely drowned in the cold and turbulent waters of the bay or succumbed to hypothermia, as the odds of successfully reaching the mainland were extremely slim. However, because their bodies were never recovered and no concrete proof of their fate was uncovered, the escape remains a mystery.