Carter Roy

Inside the corridor, they found a workshop with glues, screws, wrenches, and raincoat scraps scattered about. Records showed 52 raincoats had gone missing over the past few months. A ventilation shaft hung high above the utility corridor, and sure enough, it opened to the roof. On the roof, they found footprints. At that, they sounded the escape siren.

Guards immediately canvassed the island and alerted the FBI, Coast Guard, Highway Patrol, Army, and Bay Area Police. The Coast Guard patrolled the waters looking for the men. Military helicopters joined. Not knowing how quickly the men could be traveling, FBI agents knocked on doors in towns across the bay, like Sausalito and Tiburon. They warned locals to be on high alert for escaped prisoners.

Guards immediately canvassed the island and alerted the FBI, Coast Guard, Highway Patrol, Army, and Bay Area Police. The Coast Guard patrolled the waters looking for the men. Military helicopters joined. Not knowing how quickly the men could be traveling, FBI agents knocked on doors in towns across the bay, like Sausalito and Tiburon. They warned locals to be on high alert for escaped prisoners.

Guards immediately canvassed the island and alerted the FBI, Coast Guard, Highway Patrol, Army, and Bay Area Police. The Coast Guard patrolled the waters looking for the men. Military helicopters joined. Not knowing how quickly the men could be traveling, FBI agents knocked on doors in towns across the bay, like Sausalito and Tiburon. They warned locals to be on high alert for escaped prisoners.

With the three inmates gone, questions ran wild. Had the men had any visitors lately? Suspicious letters, conversations. In interviews, the remaining inmates didn't provide answers. They hadn't heard, seen, or noticed anything, really. Except for one. Alan West. A career criminal, Allen West's years of burglary, larceny, and car theft had put him behind bars repeatedly.

With the three inmates gone, questions ran wild. Had the men had any visitors lately? Suspicious letters, conversations. In interviews, the remaining inmates didn't provide answers. They hadn't heard, seen, or noticed anything, really. Except for one. Alan West. A career criminal, Allen West's years of burglary, larceny, and car theft had put him behind bars repeatedly.

With the three inmates gone, questions ran wild. Had the men had any visitors lately? Suspicious letters, conversations. In interviews, the remaining inmates didn't provide answers. They hadn't heard, seen, or noticed anything, really. Except for one. Alan West. A career criminal, Allen West's years of burglary, larceny, and car theft had put him behind bars repeatedly.

Multiple escape attempts and numerous assaults on fellow prisoners landed him on Alcatraz for the second time in 1958. In his interview, Allen West dripped smugness and oozed information. His account is the primary source for what we know about the escape. Because as Alan told it, he was in on the plan. Alan's story starts a year and a half prior, in January 1961.

Multiple escape attempts and numerous assaults on fellow prisoners landed him on Alcatraz for the second time in 1958. In his interview, Allen West dripped smugness and oozed information. His account is the primary source for what we know about the escape. Because as Alan told it, he was in on the plan. Alan's story starts a year and a half prior, in January 1961.

Multiple escape attempts and numerous assaults on fellow prisoners landed him on Alcatraz for the second time in 1958. In his interview, Allen West dripped smugness and oozed information. His account is the primary source for what we know about the escape. Because as Alan told it, he was in on the plan. Alan's story starts a year and a half prior, in January 1961.

That's when Clarence Anglin arrived, three months after his brother, John. By this point, Alan West had been talking about escaping for years. It was an obsession, an unfulfilled dream after past failures landed him in Alcatraz. He discussed the possibility with pretty much every inmate he came in contact with.

That's when Clarence Anglin arrived, three months after his brother, John. By this point, Alan West had been talking about escaping for years. It was an obsession, an unfulfilled dream after past failures landed him in Alcatraz. He discussed the possibility with pretty much every inmate he came in contact with.

That's when Clarence Anglin arrived, three months after his brother, John. By this point, Alan West had been talking about escaping for years. It was an obsession, an unfulfilled dream after past failures landed him in Alcatraz. He discussed the possibility with pretty much every inmate he came in contact with.

Most didn't take him seriously, but Frank Morris and John and Clarence Anglin knew Alan better. Their paths had all crossed before, at a prison in Atlanta years earlier. The Anglins quickly got on board with Allen's latest plan. They had lives they hoped to return to. Both brothers were in their early 30s with families and partners.

Most didn't take him seriously, but Frank Morris and John and Clarence Anglin knew Alan better. Their paths had all crossed before, at a prison in Atlanta years earlier. The Anglins quickly got on board with Allen's latest plan. They had lives they hoped to return to. Both brothers were in their early 30s with families and partners.

Most didn't take him seriously, but Frank Morris and John and Clarence Anglin knew Alan better. Their paths had all crossed before, at a prison in Atlanta years earlier. The Anglins quickly got on board with Allen's latest plan. They had lives they hoped to return to. Both brothers were in their early 30s with families and partners.

Frank Morris was a harder sell, no real friends or family, but he still wanted his freedom. By early winter 1961, the goal was set. Escape America's most inescapable prison. Now, bursting out of a maximum security prison with no resources seems like an impossible task. But they have some expertise. They've all attempted prison breaks before. That's how they got here.

Frank Morris was a harder sell, no real friends or family, but he still wanted his freedom. By early winter 1961, the goal was set. Escape America's most inescapable prison. Now, bursting out of a maximum security prison with no resources seems like an impossible task. But they have some expertise. They've all attempted prison breaks before. That's how they got here.

Frank Morris was a harder sell, no real friends or family, but he still wanted his freedom. By early winter 1961, the goal was set. Escape America's most inescapable prison. Now, bursting out of a maximum security prison with no resources seems like an impossible task. But they have some expertise. They've all attempted prison breaks before. That's how they got here.

The Anglins were transferred in from Leavenworth Prison in Kansas, where they'd been held for separate crimes. In Leavenworth, John had tried to break Clarence out by putting him in an enormous bread box. He and another inmate attempted to carry the box outside. but got caught straining to lift something that should have been lightweight.