Prison guard allegedly helped New York inmates escape in exchange for their paintings
As if the escaped New York inmates story couldn't get weirder, this just in: A second guard has been accused of helping murderers Richard Matt and David Sweat escape from the Clinton Correctional Facility — in exchange for paintings.
Gene Palmer was arrested yesterday in connection to the escape, and is accused of giving the killers flat-head screwdrivers and needle-nose pliers on at least four occasions. The tools were supposedly smuggled into the prison in raw meat. In return, Matt gave him his art.
Palmer allegedly destroyed some of the paintings in a fire pit outside his house after learning of the murderers' escape, and buried other paintings in the woods. However, Andrew Brockaway, Palmer's lawyer, said Palmer had no knowledge that the tools used in the prisoners' escape were inside the raw meat.
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.
An ex-inmate supplied NBC News with photos of some of Matt's art, featuring Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey. Jeva Lange
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.
-
5 ballsy cartoons about the new White House ballroomCartoons Artists take on the White House Disneyland, a menu for the elites, and more
-
‘Congratulations on your house, but maybe try a greyhound instead’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
How climate change poses a national security threatThe explainer A global problem causing more global problems
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditionsSpeed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billionSpeed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on recordSpeed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homesSpeed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creatureSpeed Read
