DANNEMORA, N.Y. -
It's a prison break making national headlines and now the hunt for the two convicted killers has expanded to the Green Mountains.
Late Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Peter Shumlin, D-Vermont, joined Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D-New York, for a news conference outside the prison in Dannemora to announce a partnership allowing both agencies to conduct cross-border investigations. The move comes on the heels of a tip the escapees may have planned to flee to Vermont.
Five days after they cut their way out of a maximum security prison in Dannemora, convicted killers David Sweat and Richard Matt are still on the loose. Authorities say they've received more than 500 leads and 450 law enforcement members are working on search.
"Today we have received more than 500 leads and we are investigating each and every one," said Superintendent Joseph D'Amico of the New York State Police.
One lead has taken investigators across the lake to the Green Mountains.
"During the course of the investigation we did develop information that that had been discussed by these men prior to their escape, the possibility of going to Vermont and finding a location in Vermont," D'Amico said.
Police would not say where that tip came from, but it was credible enough to alert Vermont's governor Wednesday morning.
"We have information that suggests that they thought New York was going to be 'hot.' Vermont would be 'cooler,' in terms of law enforcement and a camp in Vermont might be a better place to be than New York," Shumlin said.
Shumlin urges Vermonters to remain vigilant and lock their doors, but says there is no evidence to suggest the escapees acted on their plan to come to Vermont. Nor do officials know where in Vermont that mysterious camp may be.
"Lock your doors, make sure you're being vigilant," Shumlin said. "Let's work together to make sure we get these two dangerous individuals locked up again."
"I want to urge the people of Vermont to take this seriously, and as you heard report any suspicious behavior. These are not people to be trifled with," said Cuomo.
"We want to make sure that we are doing what we need to do, I would rather be overprepared than under prepared," said Vt. Public Safety Commissioner Keith Flynn.
Law enforcement calls the men extremely dangerous and admits they don't know where they are. In response public safety officials in Vermont are now opening up about ramped up security.
"Immediately we deployed troopers up to Grand Isle and Charlotte patrolling those ferry areas. We had a tactical team deployed up in the island just in case there was a sighting that would come up in that area," said Col. Tom L'Esperance, Vermont State Police.
Shumlin says the entire Vermont State Police is ready to act. A liaison has been assigned to the New York State Police Command Post and they're increasing public awareness about these escapees in state parks and remote campgrounds.
Shumlin says he's directed state police to take several steps:
- Vermont State Police have assigned a liaison to the New York State Police Command Post
- VSP Tactical Team ready to respond to all available tips
- Vermont plans to increase public awareness in state parks and remote campgrounds about the escapees
- VSP marine assets deployed onto Lake Champlain, searching shoreline and camps, particularly in the Champlain Islands
- VT crime info center in direct connect with NY for info sharing
The Coast Guard in Burlington confirms it's involved in the search for the escaped inmates. The officer on duty tells WCAX that Coast Guard officials searched an area of Willsboro Bay Tuesday, on the New York side, for about an hour. They did not turn up any evidence of David Sweat or Richard Matt.
Coast Guard officials say they're currently in "standby mode" and were not involved in any active searching Wednesday.
A law enforcement source confirmed for CBS News that Joyce Mitchell-- a prison employee-- was supposed to pick up the two inmates when they escaped but she didn't show up. The source said she went to the hospital apparently suffering from a panic attack.
When she got out of the hospital, the source says Mitchell went to authorities and told them of her involvement in the escape plans. And the source says she's still talking. But she did not know the entire game plan-- or option B-- when she didn't show up to drive them somewhere.
The source said she is also believed to have assisted in some way with acquiring the tools used to escape.
Governor Shumlin appeared on the Channel 3 News at 6 p.m. to tell us more.
Reporter Darren Perron: Governor Peter Shumlin joins us now to talk more about this. Thanks for being here.
Gov. Peter Shumlin: It's great to be with you.
Darren Perron: What was the tip-- what did Governor Cuomo say to you-- the information he received to indicate that Vermont could be the spot where these guys were fleeing to?
Gov. Peter Shumlin: Well, you know what the governor said to me-- and he's really concerned about this, I am obviously, as well-- is-- and we can't be too specific because it's part of an investigation-- but bottom line is the only indication that these guys gave to reliable sources was that they were headed for Vermont. That they thought there would be a much lower police presence, that they thought they could find a remote place and that this would be a good place to hide out. So, you know, obviously that's a concern to me and should be to all Vermonters. And we shouldn't panic, we've got to use good old Vermont common sense, but most often in situations like this, where you have folks who have broken out of prison, these are dangerous, dangerous guys. It's most often, history tells us, that we find them because someone sees them. There's something suspicious going on. It's not usually because, you know, police officers are doing their jobs and trying to look in various places. That might work, but our best hope is the public will see something and report it. If you do, do not get near these guys. Call law enforcement, let law enforcement handle it.
Reporter Kristin Kelly: So you have no information right now about where in Vermont they may have been going?
Gov. Peter Shumlin: We have no information whatsoever about where these guys have gone. And obviously, you know, this is really concerning to all of us. As I mentioned, these are dangerous guys. They are desperate. And they're in the lockup for a long, long time. They have done some really awful crimes. These guys clearly are vicious killers and they've got no moral compass whatsoever. So, while we can't panic, let's make sure that Vermonters lock their doors, that they keep eyes open, that we're all looking out for each other. And if we something suspicious, call it in.
Kristin Kelly: Why bring you over there to have this news conference today? Obviously, Vermont, New York do work closely together, Governor Cuomo talked about that today at the news conference. What was different about the information or this timing that caused this news conference today and this public announcement? Haven't you been working closely with them since they escape happened?
Gov. Peter Shumlin: Not really, to be honest with you. We've worked closely together like any state would, but when Governor Cuomo got the information-- which was very recent-- that Vermont was the destination, and the only destination that was mentioned, obviously he called me right away. We got our commissioners together. Commissioner Flynn has been working with Col. (Tom) L'Esperance and our entire Vermont State Police team. We've got over 110 state police ready to go. We've deployed our marine folks, the barracks out of New Haven, Williston, St. Albans. We're patrolling the lakes and obviously trying to tighten up those borders. We've now embedded our own folks into the New York operation, so that there's an absolutely seamless communication system and we're all hoping for the best.
Darren Perron: Now this tip that came in-- did it come from Joyce Mitchell, who was the trainer who worked on the inside of this prison who worked with and was apparently friends with these two inmates?
Gov. Peter Shumlin: You know, I can't comment on the source for fear that it would hurt the investigation and would hurt our options of getting more tips. What I can tell you is it's a reliable source, it's the only indication we have of these folks' intent which was they had a very intricate and well-designed plot to break out of this very maximum security prison. They succeeded in carrying it out, they obviously had some help and we're finding out where that help came from, and their intent was to go to Vermont.
Kristin Kelly: Now, you don't want people to panic you've said, but what do you want Vermonters to do at this point?
Gov. Peter Shumlin: We're really good at looking out for each other, and when you see suspicious things going on, calling it in. Don't take matters into your own hands; don't take these guys on. But if you find that your camp was broken into, if you find a stolen boat on the lake that's kind of sitting there suddenly-- I mean you can think of all the possibilities as I'm sure we all are. And you know Vermonters were already feeling plenty of anxiety about this. But bottom line is I think that our best shot is good Vermonters looking out for anything suspicious, reporting it in, because that's the most likely way-- if they're in Vermont, we've got no reason to believe that they are, but it is the only place that they planned to go according to the sources we have.
Kristin Kelly: Governor Peter Shumlin. Thank you very much.
Gov. Peter Shumlin: Thank you.
Click here for the police flier on the escaped inmates.
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