Woman in court over prison escape

A woman said to have helped two murderers escape from a maximum-security prison by giving them hacksaw blades, chisels, and other tools has made another court appearance as a manhunt in New York state continues.

Schools reopened with added police patrols and more than 800 police officers continued their search for Richard Matt and David Sweat, who escaped from the Clinton Correctional Facility near the Canadian border on June 6. The main road leading into the community remained closed.

Prosecutors say Joyce Mitchell, a prison tailoring shop instructor who had befriended the inmates, had agreed to be the getaway driver but backed out because she still loved her husband and felt guilty for participating.

“Basically, when it was go-time and it was the actual day of the event, I do think she got cold feet and realised, ‘What am I doing?’ Reality struck. She realised that, really, the grass wasn’t greener on the other side,” said Clinton County district attorney Andrew Wylie.

Wylie said there was no evidence the men had a plan B once Mitchell backed out and no vehicles had been reported stolen in the area. That has led searchers to believe the men are still near the prison in Dannemora.