Lyle Mitchell speaks about his wife's alleged involvement in convicted killers' escape


New York prison worker Joyce Mitchell — who has been accused of helping murderers Richard Matt and David Sweat escape from an upstate New York high-security prison — was "in over her head," according to her husband, Lyle Mitchell, who made his comments in an interview with NBC.
Joyce Mitchell denied having a sexual relationship with either of the prisoners, but Lyle Mitchell said she had planned to flee with the pair and that Matt had tried to kiss her "a couple of times." Matt also supposedly went as far as to give Joyce Mitchell the pills she would need to knock her husband out.
"She said: 'I love my husband, I'm not hurtin' him," Lyle Mitchell told NBC, explaining his wife's change of mind.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Mitchells have been married for 14 years and have known each other for 21. Lyle Mitchell said he was unaware of his wife's plot, and does not yet know if he'll testify against her.
"She said 'I—I did some things…and I got in over my head,'" Lyle Mitchell said of his wife coming clean to him. "I didn’t know what to say. I was just…disbelief, shock."
Another prison worker, Gene Palmer, has already been placed on administrative leave on the suspicion that he also had a hand in helping Matt and Sweat escape.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
'Self-segregation by political affiliation is spreading'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
7 places across the country to experience the best of summer drinking
The Week Recommends Stops include a Basque-inspired spot and a bar where the menu overhauls twice a year
-
Amazon's robotaxi looks to be Waymo's biggest competitor
In the Spotlight The company recently opened a new robotaxi production plant in California
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read