The Alcatraz Prison, located on the same-named island, opened in 1931 and was regarded as one of the safest prisons in the world until its closing in 1963. It had even gained notoriety as the prison from which no one could ever escape alive. As a result, when three inmates chose to sacrifice everything for their freedom and managed to escape, the story shook the entire globe. It took several years to figure out if they had accomplished such a feat; in this post, we'll tell you what happened to them 3.
The Escape
The event occurred in June 1962. The protagonists of this story were Frank Morris and the brothers John and Clarence Anglin. A few months before, they had discovered a kind of abandoned conduit in the prison facilities that they could use as an escape route. Obviously even if they managed to dig the tunnels, evade the guards and other multiple challenges, they knew they wouldn't make it out alive unless they conquered the final stretch to the coast. More than 2 km of rough seas until reaching the mainland. Surprisingly, with the help of handmade dolls and a raft made of waterproof materials, the plan worked. The rest is history.
The Authorities
Although their bodies were never found, authorities insisted all 3 must have drowned. But to date there are more clues that indicate the contrary. A group of Dutch researchers decided to test the feasibility of the plan, concluding that due to the weather, the current in favor and the tide, it would have been possible to reach the mainland with the manufactured raft. In 2015, the story was once again top of the news around the world, as it came to light that after 3 years from the escape, the mother of the Anglin brothers would have received a Christmas card.
The Investigation
We know that the story has been massively popularized in 1979 with the movie Escape From Alcatraz, starring Clint Eastwood. But this was not the only time the story was brought to the whole world. In 2015, a History Channel documentary told the story and showed a photo from 1975 that would prove that the inmates not only managed to survive but were in Brazil. Tests done using artificial intelligence surprised everyone when the algorithm matched the photo with the names of the Anglin brothers. Unfortunately, there is always room for doubt and inaccuracy.
The Letter
The San Francisco Police Department received a letter in 2013 that appeared to have been written by John Anglin himself. Anglin said in the letter that he was gravely ill and would give himself up in exchange for medical attention. Despite efforts to analyze fingerprints or other DNA records, police said the results of the investigation were inconclusive. Incredible as it may seem, the alleged Anglin confesses in the letter that he has been living in the United States all this time. He also writes that his brother had died in 2011 and that Morris had passed away in 2005.
The Mystery
Alcatraz jail finally closed its doors in 1963, less than a year after the famous escape. Currently it is still a point of attraction for tourists and fans of the story. Despite several decades of investigation, the true fate of the 3 inmates remains unclear. Despite all this, members of the Anglin family are convinced that both John and Clarence managed to get out alive. The fact that the brothers were accomplished swimmers just adds to the intrigue.
