The New York State Police continue to aggressively pursue leads in the search for David Sweat and Richard Matt. More than 2,000 leads have been developed and each lead is being followed until it is exhausted.
State Police continue to investigate a lead in the Owls Head area of Franklin County. Evidence was developed that the suspects may have spent time in a seasonal hunting camp in this area. (more on hunting camp discovery below) Law enforcement are on scene searching for more evidence.
As of Monday, more than 1,000 law enforcement officers from state, local and federal agencies are assisting in this search. Officers and Forest Rangers from the Department of Environmental Conservation, as well as officers from the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, FBI, U.S. Marshals, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Vermont State Police and the Clinton and Franklin County Sheriff’s Offices are all providing assistance in the search. All available assets are being deployed around the clock, including canine and aviation units.
The region around Dannemora remains a primary focus of the investigation. We ask the public to remain on alert, take any necessary safety precautions, and remain vigilant about reporting anything that is out of the ordinary.
This is especially true of seasonal camp owners now that the summer season is here. If you return to your camp and anything is out of place call 911 immediately.
State Police also want to renew our call to those who have trail cameras set up around the region to let us know if you have captured footage of any suspicious activity. No lead is too small to investigate.
Law enforcement is maintaining a strong and visible presence in the region and that will continue until we bring this matter to a close.
The State Police want to thank all of our law enforcement partners on the state, local and federal level for their collaboration. The resources, expertise and experience they provide are invaluable to our investigation.
The public should not hesitate to report any suspicious activity including any signs of a trespass, burglary or vehicle larceny. Contact 911, your local law enforcement agency, or the New York State Police to report any information related to this investigation at (518) 563-3761 or 1-800-GIVETIP. Tips can also be sent by email to [email protected].
New York State is offering a reward of $50,000 for information that leads to the capture of either suspect ($100,000 for both). The U.S. Marshals Service has placed Sweat and Matt on their 15 Most Wanted Fugitives List, and is also offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to the capture of either suspect.
MORE ON CABIN DISCOVERY: The NY State Police have found DNA of escaped killers inside of a burglarized cabin at a hunter’s camp in Owls Head, New York in Franklin County.
Investigators found prison-issued underwear and fingerprints from at least one fugitive inside the cabin that’s owned by several correction officers, according to reports.
The DNA samples were confirmed from both suspects from some kind of food found at the camp, likely peanut butter from a spoon.
The discovery has re-energized the two-week-old search for the convicted killers, who staged a movie script-worthy escape from Clinton Correctional Facility on June 6 and haven’t been seen since — at least not by authorities.
However, a witness on Saturday spotted someone running into the woods near a cabin in the Mountain View community, only 20 miles from the prison, according to acting Franklin County District Attorney Glenn MacNeill.
Investigators think the figure spotted Saturday could have been one of the fugitive prisoners, MacNeill said.
From ABC7: — “Authorities say the two may have been staying in a house in the camp that had shotguns in it and may have been forced to quickly leave after being discovered.
One may have fled without shoes. Prison-issued underwear was also found in the cabin.
The forensic evidence recovered confirms they had been there within the last 48 hours of being located.
Investigators and military trucks converged on Mountain View, a hamlet in Franklin County, late Sunday. Just hours before hundreds had searched two towns more than 350 miles away, following an unconfirmed but credible report of another sighting.
Acting Franklin County District Attorney Glenn MacNeill told WPTZ-TV Sunday that a person had been seen fleeing from a hunting camp in the area. Much of the county is within the Adirondack Park.
Sweat and Matt broke out of maximum-security Clinton Correctional Facility on June 6 and up to 800 law enforcement officers have gone door to door checking houses, wooded areas, campgrounds and summer homes.
Officials vowed to search “under every rock” and “behind every tree” on Sunday as law enforcement officers combed through a rural, mountainous area near the Pennsylvania border dotted with sheds, trailers, summer homes and other potential hideouts.” —
