Carter Roy

If that wasn't true, Alcatraz, the FBI, and the entire criminal justice system would be humiliated. And it wasn't just a PR concern. At the time, Alcatraz was at risk of getting shut down. All that security I covered earlier made it too expensive to run. By 1962, the prison had faced budget cuts and was understaffed.

They were three officers shy of the standard 98, and that was when everyone showed up, ready to work, which often wasn't the case. And the road tower, an outpost that overlooks most of the island, had shrunk its operating hours to daylight only.

They were three officers shy of the standard 98, and that was when everyone showed up, ready to work, which often wasn't the case. And the road tower, an outpost that overlooks most of the island, had shrunk its operating hours to daylight only.

They were three officers shy of the standard 98, and that was when everyone showed up, ready to work, which often wasn't the case. And the road tower, an outpost that overlooks most of the island, had shrunk its operating hours to daylight only.

Perhaps in an effort to get on the right track, they'd recently hired a new warden and acting warden, but its high security reputation was essentially the only thing keeping the prison open. If inmates survived an escape, that reputation would be demolished. And the thing was, Frank Morris and the Anglins might not have been the first to escape alive and have their story brushed under the rug.

Perhaps in an effort to get on the right track, they'd recently hired a new warden and acting warden, but its high security reputation was essentially the only thing keeping the prison open. If inmates survived an escape, that reputation would be demolished. And the thing was, Frank Morris and the Anglins might not have been the first to escape alive and have their story brushed under the rug.

Perhaps in an effort to get on the right track, they'd recently hired a new warden and acting warden, but its high security reputation was essentially the only thing keeping the prison open. If inmates survived an escape, that reputation would be demolished. And the thing was, Frank Morris and the Anglins might not have been the first to escape alive and have their story brushed under the rug.

In 1937, prisoners Ralph Rowe and Ted Cole stole a wrench from the prison's woodshop. They used it to break through a window and a locked gate and ran to the beach. They were never seen or heard from again. Officials claimed a violent storm swept the pair beneath the waves, drowning them. However, their remains were never found, just like in the case of Frank Morris and the Angolans.

In 1937, prisoners Ralph Rowe and Ted Cole stole a wrench from the prison's woodshop. They used it to break through a window and a locked gate and ran to the beach. They were never seen or heard from again. Officials claimed a violent storm swept the pair beneath the waves, drowning them. However, their remains were never found, just like in the case of Frank Morris and the Angolans.

In 1937, prisoners Ralph Rowe and Ted Cole stole a wrench from the prison's woodshop. They used it to break through a window and a locked gate and ran to the beach. They were never seen or heard from again. Officials claimed a violent storm swept the pair beneath the waves, drowning them. However, their remains were never found, just like in the case of Frank Morris and the Angolans.

It's possible Ralph and Ted also escaped alive and made new lives as free men. And the problem with one allegedly successful escape is that it inspires copycats. In late 1962, mere months after Frank and the Anglins disappeared, two more convicts attempted a breakout. One gave up when he saw the bay. The other dove in.

It's possible Ralph and Ted also escaped alive and made new lives as free men. And the problem with one allegedly successful escape is that it inspires copycats. In late 1962, mere months after Frank and the Anglins disappeared, two more convicts attempted a breakout. One gave up when he saw the bay. The other dove in.

It's possible Ralph and Ted also escaped alive and made new lives as free men. And the problem with one allegedly successful escape is that it inspires copycats. In late 1962, mere months after Frank and the Anglins disappeared, two more convicts attempted a breakout. One gave up when he saw the bay. The other dove in.

The next day, authorities discovered the escaped inmate lying on the rocks beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. He'd actually made it across the bay, but was suffering from exhaustion and hypothermia by the time he got to land. He couldn't go any further. But he'd proven one thing. Swimming from Alcatraz to the Marin Headlands was possible, even without a raft or life vest.

The next day, authorities discovered the escaped inmate lying on the rocks beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. He'd actually made it across the bay, but was suffering from exhaustion and hypothermia by the time he got to land. He couldn't go any further. But he'd proven one thing. Swimming from Alcatraz to the Marin Headlands was possible, even without a raft or life vest.

The next day, authorities discovered the escaped inmate lying on the rocks beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. He'd actually made it across the bay, but was suffering from exhaustion and hypothermia by the time he got to land. He couldn't go any further. But he'd proven one thing. Swimming from Alcatraz to the Marin Headlands was possible, even without a raft or life vest.

It seemed the inescapable prison was actually quite escapable. And to that point, Alcatraz shut down the next year in 1963. So if we assume the men made it out and it was covered up, the big question is, where did they go? Since the escape, a few independent investigations have tried to recreate the escapees' circumstances.

It seemed the inescapable prison was actually quite escapable. And to that point, Alcatraz shut down the next year in 1963. So if we assume the men made it out and it was covered up, the big question is, where did they go? Since the escape, a few independent investigations have tried to recreate the escapees' circumstances.

It seemed the inescapable prison was actually quite escapable. And to that point, Alcatraz shut down the next year in 1963. So if we assume the men made it out and it was covered up, the big question is, where did they go? Since the escape, a few independent investigations have tried to recreate the escapees' circumstances.

In 2003, Mythbusters hosts Jamie Heinemann and Adam Savage attempted to build an identical raft and paddle it across the bay at night. A camera crew and safety personnel watched as the hosts and an assistant took off from the waters near Alcatraz. They paddled through the darkness, refilling the air in their rubber raft whenever it started sinking.