Convicted murderers David Sweat and Richard Matt had originally planned to drive to Mexico after escaping from a New York prison earlier this month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) told public radio show Capitol Pressroom on Monday.
Using power tools, they escaped from the Clinton Correctional Facility on June 6, allegedly with the help of prison worker Joyce Mitchell. The three were going to head south after killing Mitchell's husband, Sweat said in the hospital, but when Mitchell backed out, they decided to make a break for Canada.
A 23-day manhunt ended Sunday when authorities shot and captured Sweat near the Canadian border. He is in serious condition at Albany Medical Center. Matt was shot and killed 16 miles away Friday. The two had split up five days before Sweat's capture, Cuomo said, because Matt was apparently slowing Sweat down.
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